Chapter 1 56 % 5 vouchers It was still dark at 6 AM . Sherry Lemmon got up and got dressed fast . She looked at her mother , who had been out cold for three days , and her little brow wrinkled . Sherry moved closer and draped her newly found , tattered coat over her mother to keep her warm . Just then , cold air sneaked in through the window crack , and she shivered . Sherry slid off the bed quietly , careful not to step on the broken glass . She grabbed the broom , which was taller than she was , and swept the floor clean . She didn't want her mother to cut her feet . Sherry took out the bottles she picked up yesterday and went out to sell them for cash . Then she used the money to buy some vegetables . Back home , after cooking , she carried a plate over and whispered to her mother , " Mom , time to eat . " Her mother , Scarlett Lemmon , lay on the bed , motionless . Sherry called out several times but got no reply , She tiptoed closer , blew warm air onto her hands , and gently pressed them to Scarlett's cold cheeks , trying to warm her up , But Scarlett gave no response . Sherry went to boil water . She pressed the kettle switch , but nothing happened . She suddenly remembered that the power was cut off last night . She planned to wait for Scarlett to pay the electricity bill , but couldn't wake her . She decided to wait quietly and not disturb Scarlett . Night fell . Scarlett still didn't wake . Sherry looked at the washed veggies and swallowed hard . Finally , she drank cold water , which made her shiver . Her stomach stopped growling . She must save the food for Scarlett . Sherry grabbed her sack and went out to collect bottles, bumping into Emily Anderson , her neighbor . Emily saw Sherry and gasped , " Oh no ! Sherry , why are you just in a T - shirt ? It's freezing . " Sherry's coat was with Scarlett . Sherry's face turned blue from the cold , but she shook her head and said , " I'm not cold . " Emily gently took Sherry home . Hearing Sherry say Scarlett hadn't woken up for three days , she felt something was wrong . Emily felt uneasy . She threw one of her grandson's coats on Sherry and rushed to Sherry's place . The house was pitch black , freezing cold , and stinking of booze , with half - frozen water sitting by . Emily knew that that bottle of water was Sherry's food . Scarlett was not reliable , so Sherry drank water to fill up . Seeing Sherry's tiny clothes on Scarlett's quilt , she got mad instantly . Emily snapped , " Scarlett , get up now ! " She really felt sorry for Sherry . If it weren't for Sherry , Emily wouldn't visit . Sherry was a sweet girl , but she was stuck with an unqualified mother . Scarlett had a complex personal situation . Receiving no response , Emily nudged Scarlett impatiently . The icy touch shocked her , and her bad feeling grew . Emily turned on the flashlight and saw Scarlett's pale face . Shaking , she checked for breath under Scarlett's nose . Her heart sank . Sherry was drinking water at Emily's place when she heard a scream from her house . She rushed over . 1/3 02:00 Mon , Sep 8 GGG . Chapter 1 3.56 % 5 vouchers The house was packed , with people crowded at the door . Sherry slipped through easily with her small size and saw her mom covered with a sheet , two cops standing near . " Mom ? " Sherry called out , dazed . The cop looked at Sherry , then at Emily . " Is this the dead woman's daughter ? " Emily nodded , her heart breaking for Sherry . Though Scarlett was an unreliable mother , she was still Sherry's mother . Now that Scarlett was gone , Sherry's life would suffer even more People whispered around her . Sherry couldn't understand what they said , but caught the word " dead ." Her eyelashes trembled . Sherry was taken to the police station . After a long time , a policewoman soon handed her a white urn and looked at Sherry with a sigh . The autopsy said it was suicide . Since no family came forward and Scarlett's phone contacts were all shady with no useful info , the police cremated Scarlett following the rules . After a thought , the policewoman asked , " Sherry , do you have any other family ? " Hearing this , Sherry tilted her head , thought for a bit , and said softly , " I have a dad and an uncle . " Surprised she had a dad and uncle , the policewoman's eyes lit up . With family , Sherry wouldn't end up in an orphanage . She asked quickly , " Do you know how to reach them ? " Sherry nodded . Scarlett had called them before ; Sherry saw their numbers once and remembered . The policewoman grabbed her phone and dialed . The number worked - it wasn't cut off . She breathed a sigh of relief and said , " Hello , Scarlett's husband ? She- " Before she could finish , a cold voice answered , " Only call if she's dead ." " What kind of person is that ? " the policewoman snapped . She looked at Sherry , and then quickly dialed another number . " Hello , is this Scarlett's brother ? She's passed . Can you come get her ashes ? " On the phone , Yancy Lemmon paused , and then said scornfully , " Ashes ? Just toss them . " He thought that Scarlett was playing tricks . Still trying , the policewoman asked , " Are you really her brother ? She left a daughter . If no one takes her , she'll go to an orphanage . " " A daughter ? " Yancy said coldly . " Then she can die too . " And he hung up . The policewoman was stunned . Sherry's ears twitched . Her little head lowered slowly . She bit her lip , hugging the urn closely . Her small hands covered the lid , like shielding Scarlett's ears . She murmured , " Mommy , it's okay . If you don't hear , you won't be sad . " ***** Outside the police station , Harold Hammond tapped his fingers on the steering wheel . He watched the scene , stared at Sherry for a bit , and then walked over . He asked out of the blue , " Hey kid , want a dad ? " Sherry looked up at him , confused . ***** 2/3 02:00 Mon , Sep 8 GGG . Chapter 1 3.56 % B 5 vouchers Half an hour later , at the Hammond residence , Zeina Hammond saw the room full of sons and grandsons and blew her top . " You're useless ! Not one of you can give me a granddaughter . What good are you ? " Zeina's husband , Xavier Hammond , her sons , Javier Hammond , and Winston Hammond , kept their heads down . They didn't dare say a word . The Hammond family's little troublemakers stayed quiet , too , tails between their legs , scared the blame would fall on them . Zeina kept ranting . " Harold's no better . Old and still single . When will I get my precious granddaughter ? You'll be the death of me ! " She beat her chest . Just then , Harold walked in from outside . He carried a little girl and shoved her into Zeina's arms . " Here , your granddaughter ." 3/3 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!