Emily lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind like a storm she couldn't escape. She had made a series of bad choices that led her to this point, and now, she had to live with the consequences. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen and saw her mother's name. It was past midnight.

She answered the call, trying to keep her voice steady. "Mom? Is everything okay?"

Mary's voice was filled ...