Hannah sat on the chair, still trembling, her tears slowly subsiding. Catherine held her gently and looked her in the eyes.
"Hannah," she said firmly, "we can't just sit here and cry. Your daughter… she is out there, and we have to do something. The first thing we must do is go to the police. They can help us track her, and we need to file a report."
Hannah shook her head weakly, her voice cracking.
"I… I don't know if I can… What if they don't believe me? What if… what if David finds out?"
Catherine squeezed her hand. "Hannah, I understand your fear. But this is about your child. You can't wait any longer. Every moment that passes, it becomes harder. I will go with you. Rachel will come too. You're not alone in this."
Hannah's sobs returned, but this time there was a spark of hope in her eyes.
"You… you'll really help me?" she whispered.
Catherine nodded firmly.
"Yes. First the police, then we plan how to find your little girl. We will take it step by step, but the important thing is… we act now."
Hannah wiped her tears and took a deep breath. She finally nodded.
"Okay… let's do it," she said, her voice small but determined.
Rachel, standing nearby, smiled softly.
"You won't be alone, Hannah. I'll be right there with you."
Catherine gave Hannah a reassuring hug.
"Good. Now, finish what you need here, gather your strength, and then we go. Today, we take the first step to bring Ella back."
Hannah looked around the cafe, her chest heavy but her heart a little lighter. For the first time in weeks, she felt a direction—an action she could take toward reclaiming her daughter.
The police station was busy, officers moving in and out, phones ringing, and papers shuffling. Hannah, Catherine, and Rachel walked in quietly, hearts pounding. Hannah's hands trembled, and she gripped Rachel's arm tightly.
A young officer looked up from his desk.
"Good morning. How can we help you?"
Catherine stepped forward confidently.
"We're here to report a missing child. She was taken unlawfully, and we need your help to locate her."
Hannah swallowed hard, her voice shaking as she spoke.
"My daughter… her name is Ella. She was taken from me by a man named David. I don't know where she is, and I don't know if she's safe. Please… I just want my child back."
The officer nodded, taking out a form.
"Okay, ma'am. We'll need all the details you can give us—full names, approximate age, date she went missing, any descriptions of the person who took her. This will help us start the search."
Hannah closed her eyes and breathed deeply, trying to remember every detail.
"Ella is two years old. She has soft brown hair and bright eyes. The man… David. He's tall, in his twenties. He once told me he has a wife and another daughter. I… I think he took her to his home."
The officer wrote diligently, nodding.
"Thank you. We will start investigating immediately. Do you have any proof of parentage—birth certificate, photos, anything that can confirm she's your child?"
Hannah hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I have some photos, and I know her date of birth. I will provide everything you need."
Rachel handed over her phone with pictures of Ella, and Catherine added, "We will cooperate fully. Just help us bring this child back."
The officer assured them, "We will do our best. Cases like these are delicate, but you've taken the right step coming to the police. We'll start by gathering statements and checking records."
Hannah's shoulders sagged slightly, the tension in her chest easing just a little.
Finally… a step forward, she thought. Maybe, just maybe, I will see Ella again.
Catherine placed a reassuring hand on her back.
"See, Grace? This is how we start. The first step toward bringing her home."
Grace nodded, tears still threatening to fall, but her heart now held a fragile glimmer of hope.
Back at the police station, the officers had begun the formal process. Statements were being taken, photos were copied, and a report was officially logged. Catherine stayed close to Hannah, holding her hand when she flinched at every question. Rachel whispered encouragements, quietly promising Hannah that they would not let David win.
"Ma'am, we'll circulate her photo to all local checkpoints and coordinate with nearby districts," the officer explained. "It may take some time, but we will do everything we can."
Hannah nodded, biting her lip to hold back tears.
"Thank you… thank you so much. Please… find my daughter," she whispered, voice trembling.
Meanwhile, back at David's home, the house was calm on the surface, but tension simmered underneath. Victoria watched David as he played with Felicity, brushing her curls and making her giggle.
"You seem… distracted," Victoria said softly, a hint of suspicion in her tone. "Is everything alright?"
David forced a smile, tucking Felicity closer to his chest.
"It's nothing, Victoria. Just… work stress. That's all."
Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't push. She watched as David carried Felicity to her bedroom, whispering to her, stroking her hair. Isabelle followed, giggling and mimicking her father's actions.
But in David's mind, he was restless.
Hannah… I know her first move , I know she will go to the police to report . I need to be careful… but I can't let anyone take the child—from me.
Felicity yawned and curled up in David's arms, oblivious to the storm brewing around her. Yet, the tension in the house was palpable—Victoria's quiet suspicion, David's inner turmoil, and the police investigation slowly closing in.
Meanwhile, miles away, Hannah( Grace )walked out of the police station, exhausted but determined.
"We started today," she told Catherine and Rachel. "One step at a time, we will bring Ella back."
Catherine nodded.
"Yes, and we must be careful. David won't give her up easily."
Rachel looked at Hannah, her eyes fierce.
"But he can't hide forever. We will find her, Hannah. I promise."
Hannah took a deep breath, feeling a small spark of hope. Her heart still ached, but now it carried determination.
No matter what it takes… I will see my daughter again.