Page 58 of Breadwinner
SARAH
RULE #7: FUCK THE MONEY.
Sarah 10:46 PM
Don’t hate me. I know I’m supposed to be on a flight to Vegas tomorrow morning, but I won’t be able to come until Saturday. Wren changed her mind and wants me to be at the hearing tomorrow.
Nell 10:48 PM
I could never hate you. Do what you need to. I’ll see you on Saturday. But I do insist you take the jet. —N
Sarah 10:49 PM
Oh, you insist?
Nell 10:50 PM
Yes. I do. Your new itinerary is in your inbox. Good night, Sarah. —N
Sarah sat quietly on a chair in the corner of the judge’s chambers in the Juvenile Court of King County, Washington, the following morning. She watched Wren closely as she sat stiffly in the chair in front of the judge’s desk, her curls pulled back into a low, tight braid, wearing a blazer she had borrowed from Sarah that was too large for her lanky frame. The blazer had been Wren’s idea. She said it made her look “more adult,” but all Sarah could see was a teenage girl trying her best to be strong.
The attorney beside her, a maternal woman named Elise, was speaking now as she calmly and confidently explained the terms of emancipation: Wren’s financial independence, stable housing, continued education. Letters of support from adults in Wren’s life, including Jamie, her teammate Shannon York, Wren’s coaches, and Sarah, all attesting to Wren’s maturity, were also presented. Wren checked every single box needed as Elise laid out the evidence with a precision Sarah couldn’t help but respect.
To the left of Wren sat two chairs meant for her parents, but they were empty. They hadn’t shown up, and Sarah wasn’t shocked by that in the slightest. They had taken the money and cut out, exactly as she’d known they would, because that had been the agreement.
The judge listened to Wren’s attorney as she flipped through the documents. Sarah knew this case was likely one of dozens on the docket. She knew Wren was, in the eyes of the law, little more than a line item needing resolution. But sitting here, watching Wren pretend she wasn’t watching the door, looking for her mother one last time before the hearing started, Sarah couldn’t stop her hands from curling into fists as her anger at the whole situation filled her.
“Miss Parker,” the judge said, directing her attention to Wren. “You understand that this decision, if granted, means your parents will no longer have any obligation to support youunder the eyes of the law. You and you alone will be responsible for your welfare. That means financial, educational, medical, and otherwise. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Wren said confidently.
“And you still wish to proceed with this petition?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, then,” the judge said, stamping the file in front of her. “The court grants the petition for emancipation. Effective immediately, Wren Parker, you are now recognized as a legal adult in the state of Washington.”
Wren sat perfectly still before nodding in acknowledgment. Elise leaned in to whisper something in her ear, but Wren only nodded again, pushing her chair back and rising to her feet.
When she turned, her eyes found Sarah’s in an instant. For a second—the shortest second—Sarah saw it. The grief. The hurt. The aching, empty space where her parents should’ve been. Then it vanished.
Sarah rose to meet her, keeping her voice low. “You okay?”
Wren shrugged. “I didn’t expect them to come.”
That wasn’t what Sarah had asked, but she didn’t press. She reached out and gently touched Wren’s elbow. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get some lunch. You get to pick. Anywhere you want.”
Wren hesitated. “This is really dumb, but can we go to the Space Needle?”
Sarah tilted her head, not quite understanding.
“I want to see the city,” Wren said. “From above. Like... all of it. I’ve never been to the Space Needle. My parents always promised we’d go together one day, and, well, I’ve lived in Seattle for a year now and I still haven’t been.”
Sarah swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat. It was such an innocent request, but one that clearly meant a great deal to Wren.
“Yeah,” she said. “Yeah, we can definitely do that.”
Sarah slipped her arm around Wren’s shoulders as they walked out of the building and onto the busy downtown street.