In the serene suburb of Somerset, Sarah’s life took a harrowing turn when her ex-partner, Mark, weaponized their son, Adam, in a cruel game of emotional manipulation.

Adam, a bright and curious child, was unwittingly caught in the crossfire of his parents’ tumultuous relationship. Mark, bitter and resentful after their separation, saw Adam as a tool to exert control over Sarah.

At first, the manipulation was subtle—Mark would use Adam as a messenger, passing along hurtful messages or planting seeds of doubt in the young boy’s impressionable mind. Adam, desperate for his father’s approval, unwittingly became a pawn in Mark’s twisted game.

As Adam grew older, Mark’s tactics became more insidious. He would manipulate Adam’s visitation schedule, using it as leverage to coerce Sarah into compliance with his demands. Adam, torn between his love for both parents, felt trapped in a web of deceit and manipulation.

Sarah, heartbroken and desperate to protect her son, struggled to shield Adam from the toxic influence of his father. She sought solace in the support of friends and family, but the weight of Mark’s manipulation took its toll on their fragile bond.

But amidst the chaos, a beacon of hope emerged—Sarah’s sister, Rachel, who had always been a pillar of strength and support. Rachel, a fierce advocate for justice, refused to stand idly by while her nephew suffered at the hands of his father.

With Rachel’s unwavering support, Sarah found the courage to take action. Together, they sought legal recourse, documenting Mark’s abusive behavior and fighting tirelessly to protect Adam from further harm.

In a landmark court case, Sarah and Rachel secured a restraining order against Mark, ensuring that he could no longer use Adam as a weapon of abuse. Though scars from the ordeal remained, Sarah and Adam found solace in each other’s love and support, their bond stronger than ever before.

As they embarked on a journey of healing and renewal, Sarah vowed to always protect her son from harm, no matter the cost. And with Rachel by her side, she knew that together, they could weather any storm that came their way.

In the end, Sarah’s story served as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love to triumph over even the darkest of shadows.

The happy ending for Sarah represents the prayer and hope that the writer, Adaobi, has long carried in her heart. Sarah’s story was crafted to shed light on the issue of coercive control by proxy, which many women endure. In the narrative, Sarah finds strength and support through her sister Rachel, a stark contrast to Adaobi’s own experience.

Adaobi, the driving force behind this story, hopes to find her own light at the end of the tunnel. She sincerely wishes she had been as fortunate as Sarah in receiving support from her siblings or family. At times, Adaobi feels like an alien, disconnected from any familial bond on earth. For the past 22 years of her son Udo’s life, she has been the sole provider, offering emotional and financial support to her family. She is the one who has traveled thousands of miles to visit, bought gifts, and sent money.

What Sarah experiences in the story mirrors much of what Adaobi has endured since becoming a mother. Sadly, her family seems unable to grasp her struggles. They only reach out when they need her help. When her younger sister passed away, Adaobi sold her truck to send money for the funeral, even as she herself was battling domestic abuse and alienation from her only child at the hands of his father. Yet, when her sister’s life insurance payout was processed, no one even bothered to inform her.

Ultimately, while the story focuses on Sarah, its essence stems from Adaobi’s own experiences. She chose to give Sarah a positive ending—one where support and love triumph—because she desperately needed to create that vision for herself. The absence of hope, compounded by her family’s lack of understanding and the slow progress of her own situation, often feels like an unending cycle of frustration.

Sarah finding support and reconciling with her son represents the happy ending Adaobi deeply wishes to have for herself.