Siara’s POV
“Coco, don’t come here!”
Right now, I’m standing in my kitchen trying to make something edible while Coco — my cat, who was gifted to me by Mom on my fifteenth birthday — keeps jumping around my legs.
It has been almost three weeks since the drastic change that turned my life upside down.
I’m still trying to adjust to this new life without Mom…
Without anyone…
Just me and Coco.
That’s why I always try to keep myself busy so I won’t think about the things that make me anxious.
“Finally, this sandwich is ready,” I muttered proudly. “It’s just a sandwich, but it took me almost one hour to make it.”
Taking the plate carefully, I walked into the living room.
After searching for something to watch while eating, I tossed the remote beside me on the couch. I was just about to take the first bite of my sandwich when the doorbell suddenly rang, making me flinch.
“Who could that be?” I asked Coco.
She simply blinked at me as if saying she had no idea.
Rolling my eyes, I placed the plate down and walked toward the door.
When I opened it, I saw a woman standing there. She looked to be in her mid-thirties with a polite smile on her face.
A fake smile.
“Hello, dear. Are you Siara Oberoi?” she asked.
I nodded cautiously.
“Well, dear, I’m Melinda… your social worker.”
The moment those words left her mouth, I froze.
A thousand thoughts rushed through my head at once.
I had heard stories about social workers taking children without parents and placing them into orphanages or foster care.
And I didn’t want either of those things.
I’m seventeen years old and will turn eighteen in nine months.
I know how to take care of myself.
Okay… maybe I can’t cook properly, but besides that, I’m managing fine.
I’m handling college, Coco, the apartment — everything.
So why was she here?
Did she want to send me to foster care?
Would they take Coco away from me too?
No.
I wouldn’t let that happen.
I would ju—
“Dear… are you listening to me?”
Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Y-Yeah. What did you say?”
“I said I wanted to talk to you. Can I come in?”
I hesitated for a second before stepping aside.
“Yes… please come in.”
She entered the apartment, quietly looking around before taking a seat on the couch.
I sat stiffly across from her while she opened a thin folder resting on her lap.
“What do you want to talk about?” I asked nervously.
“Siara, I know what happened to your mother.”
Of course she did.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Siara,” she said softly. “I know this is probably the last thing you want to deal with right now.”
I nodded silently.
Melinda glanced around the apartment before speaking again.
“How long have you been living alone?”
“Since Mom passed away.”
“And there’s no relative who could stay with you? Grandparents, aunt, uncle?”
“My grandparents are dead. And we’re not close to anyone else.”
She wrote something down in her file.
“Are you attending college regularly?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have financial support?”
“My mom left savings. I also have a scholarship.”
Melinda looked slightly surprised, probably not expecting that answer from a seventeen-year-old.
“Okay,” she said carefully. “The reason I’m here is because legally, you’re still a minor. When a parent passes away, we’re required to make sure the child has proper guardianship and a safe living arrangement.”
“I don’t need a guardian,” I said quickly. “I can take care of myself.”
“I’m not saying you can’t,” she replied calmly. “But legally, living alone at seventeen complicates things.”
The moment she said that, my chest tightened.
“You’re not sending me to foster care.”
“It’s not my decision alone,” she explained gently. “But if there’s no legal guardian available, the state can intervene.”
“No.”
I immediately shook my head.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Melinda sighed softly before asking,
“What about your father?”
I froze instantly.
“I…” My fingers curled tightly into Coco’s fur. “He exists.”
“Are you in contact with him?”
“No.”
“Does he know about your situation?”
I hesitated before answering quietly.
“No.”
“Siara, if your father is alive, legally he would be the first person we contact regarding guardianship.”
Panic rushed through me immediately.
“No, you can’t contact him.”
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t want me,” I snapped harshly. “Actually, my father doesn’t even like me, and he definitely wouldn’t want me in his house. Please try to understand. I’ve practically lived independently my whole life. I have money, an apartment, a college scholarship… and above all, I’ll turn eighteen in a few months. I don’t want my life to change anymore. I’m already going through a lot, so please… just understand my situation.”
I said everything in one breath, my voice cracking toward the end.
Maybe if she pitied me enough, she would just leave me alone.
Melinda studied me quietly for a few seconds.
“Do you want to continue living independently?”
“Yes.”
I almost smiled in relief but stopped myself because I didn’t want her to think I was manipulating her.
“Then there may be another option.”
I looked at her cautiously.
“In some cases, minors close to adulthood can apply for emancipation,” she explained. “It basically means the court recognizes you as legally independent before turning eighteen.”
My eyebrows furrowed slightly.
I already knew what emancipation meant, but I still wanted confirmation.
“But because your father is alive,” she continued, “things become more complicated. The court would likely notify him anyway.”
Of course they would.
“If he agrees to sign the necessary documents and confirms that he won’t contest the emancipation request, the process will become much smoother.”
I let out a quiet breath, already feeling a headache forming.
“And if he doesn’t?”
Melinda’s expression softened.
“Then child services may place you under temporary guardianship until you turn eighteen.”
Silence filled the room.
“Well,” I muttered bitterly, “this just keeps getting better.”
Well… shit.
I was completely trapped.
I didn’t want any contact with Mr. King, but looking at my situation now…
Why God?
Why me?
I looked down at Coco, who was peacefully sleeping beside me.
I couldn’t lose this apartment.
I couldn’t lose the last thing Mom left for me.
“Okay,” I finally said because I had no other option. Arguing with her was useless anyway. It was obvious she wouldn’t let this go easily.
“Siara,” Melinda said softly, “you only have one week. You need to get the papers signed within that time, or I’m sorry… I won’t be able to help you further. You’ll have to accept temporary foster care placement.”
“Okay,” I whispered quietly. “I’ll get them signed within one week.”
“Alright. I’ll bring the papers tomorrow.”
She stood up from the couch and walked toward the door.
“Okay,” I replied while following behind her.
After she left, I closed the door and leaned against it heavily.
Well shit.
Now I was officially in trouble.
But first…
I needed to finish my sandwich.
Otherwise, I would literally die from hunger.
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