The thought kept me smiling during the entire drive. As I turned onto our old street, memories of bike rides, summer days, and my mom’s laughter flooded back. But when I saw what was left of our home, my heart sank. The house was gone, reduced to a pile of broken bricks and scattered wood. I couldn’t breathe. I jumped out of the car, running toward the rubble, shouting, “Mom?” But there was no response, only the sound of the wind.Suddenly, a voice called out, “Hey, looking for someone?” I turned and saw Tom, a guy from high school who had always made me uneasy. My mom had been his teacher, and he resented her for his poor grades, never accepting responsibility for his lack of effort. “Tom?” I asked, confused. “What happened here?” He laughed coldly. “Finally got what she deserved, didn’t she? Old hag.” My stomach churned. “What are you talking about? Where’s my mom?” Tom shrugged, grinning. “Who knows? Not my problem.” He walked away, leaving me stunned and desperate. I needed to find her. I stumbled over the debris, calling out her name, but there was nothing—no sign of her. Panic surged through me as I grabbed my phone and dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail.“Mom, please, call me back. I’m at the house, but… it’s gone. Where are you?” My hands trembled as I tried again, still no answer. I had to get help. Someone had to know where she was. I drove straight to the police station, my mind racing. When I walked in, the officer at the desk looked up and asked how he could help. “My mom,” I gasped. “She’s missing. Our house… it’s been destroyed. I need to find her.” The officer frowned and asked for her name. As he typed it into the computer, his expression grew serious. “Ma’am, we’ve had some reports about her.” “What do you mean? Where is she?” I could barely keep my voice steady.He explained that developers had called about a month ago, claiming she was trespassing on sold property. They expected her to leave, but she refused. “No,” I insisted. “She didn’t sell the house. She would’ve told me.” He hesitated before revealing that they had a document with her signature. Despite their efforts to help, she wouldn’t leave, and they had been unable to contact me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I asked, “So, where is she now?” “She’s been seen around the market area. I’m sorry, but she’s been homeless for the past month.” My world tilted. “Homeless? No, that can’t be right.” The officer confirmed it, saying they tried to reach out, but she refused help, and they couldn’t reach me.I didn’t wait to hear more. I had to find her. I rushed to the market, my heart heavy with dread. My mom, homeless? It didn’t seem real. But as I turned a corner and saw her, reality struck me hard. She was sitting on a worn-out bench, wrapped in an old coat that barely kept out the cold. Her once-neatly styled hair was tangled and gray. Her bright eyes were now dull and tired. She looked smaller, fragile. “Mom!” I called out, my voice breaking. She looked up, her face lighting up briefly before the weight of everything returned. “Oh, honey,” she whispered as I knelt in front of her, tears streaming down my face. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I should have been here. I should have known.” She shook her head, tears falling down her face. “It’s not your fault. They just showed up one day, two men. They said they were there to tear down the house. I tried to call you, but they took my phone. I couldn’t remember your number by heart, and… and no one would help me.”I held her cold, trembling hands and asked why the police hadn’t done something. She explained that they claimed she had signed a paper agreeing to the demolition, but she hadn’t. She never signed anything, and they wouldn’t listen to her. All my mom’s nearby friends had either passed away or moved to nursing homes, leaving her with no one close by. My heart shattered as I realized how alone she had been. “You’re not alone anymore, Mom. I’m here, and I’m going to fix this. I promise you that.” That night, as she slept on my couch, I stayed awake, my mind racing. I couldn’t let them get away with this. My mom had been wronged, and I was going to make it right. The next morning, I started investigating the developer who had taken her home. It didn’t take long to uncover their dirty dealings. They targeted elderly homeowners, forging documents to steal their properties, and demolishing the houses before anyone could intervene. My mom wasn’t the first, but I was determined she’d be the last.I found a lawyer who was as outraged as I was by what had happened. Together, we gathered every scrap of evidence we could find—phone records, signatures, and the history of other homes the developer had taken. We reached out to the media, and soon, the story was everywhere. People were furious. This wasn’t just about my mom anymore; it was about protecting the vulnerable from greedy criminals. The public outrage worked. The developer soon faced multiple lawsuits and criminal charges. The police officers who had ignored my mom’s pleas were suspended, and an investigation into their conduct was launched. My lawyer was relentless, and it wasn’t long before the case went to court, exposing the developer’s scam. The signatures were proven to be forged, and the truth was laid bare for all to see. The judge didn’t hold back. The developer was ordered to pay a massive settlement to my mom, not just for the loss of her home but for the emotional trauma she had endured. The best part: they were ordered to rebuild the house exactly as it was.But even as we celebrated the victory, I knew things could never go back to the way they were. I couldn’t bear the thought of my mom living alone in that house again, not after everything she’d been through. So, we made a new plan. With part of the settlement money, I rented a house nearby, close enough so I could see her every day. The relief on her face when I told her the plan was worth everything. As we settled into our new routine, I couldn’t help but reflect on everything that had happened. We had won, but at a great cost. My mom had lost her home, her sense of security, and so much more. But we had also gained something—an unbreakable bond and a reminder of the importance of fighting for what’s right. Through all the pain and struggle, one thing became clear: family is everything. And no matter how busy life gets, nothing is more important than being there for the ones you love. I promised myself I would never let anything like this happen again—not to my mom or anyone. We would rebuild not just our home but our lives, and it will be stronger than ever before.
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