7

Maria was able to escape and her relative gave her shelter. Nevertheless, with the help of her friends, she was able to see the her medical record. Her friends scanned and sent them to her. One morning, along with brochures and supermarket discounts, Maria found a gray envelope in her mailbox with clear, angular printed letters. "Law firm X," she read.

The irrational discomfort that any normal person who receives an official letter is likely to experience, quickly gave way to simple surprise. Maria didn't break the law (the law was too far from her for them to interfere), she regularly paid her bills and never dealt with lawyers. Why would they suddenly write to her? It was, most likely, a mistake, she thought. Maria immediately opened the envelope. What she found there was her case.

'Maria X. Year of birth XX. Was admitted to the hospital with acute paranoid personality and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Tried to kill her own child with a sushi plastic bag. Has fixed suicidal thoughts.

Is dangerous for society and herself. The lifetime treatment in a closed facility is required.

For her child benefit, the girl should not contact her mother Durante vita'.

…Maria could not believe what she saw. She was smeared with so much lies and backbite. So, with the help of this piece of paper, someone took her daughter away from her. In a matter-of-fact style Maria was informed that her ex-husband, Mr. X, had accepted an application for custody over Kate and that Maria should put her signature under the words "Agree" in the document attached to the letter. Otherwise, Maria should show up at the lawyers' office for raising an objection and the case will be referred to the court, which is to give a final ruling.

It took a bit longer for Maria to come to a realization of what she has read. She had to reread the letter at least five more times. She felt like her heart was hit with adrenaline. It was like a stroke that could shake the very foundation of the world crushing the concrete base, bending the carcass and causing million cracks on the walls.

My child is being taken away!

Maria was no even invited to the court, and did not want to talk to those lawyers that were claiming that she had been assigned a guardian who would now decide everything for her. The diagnosis, the guardian… In a flash, Maria turned into a silent creature, that wasn't given any chance to speak.

Her baby was being stolen from her with the help of some expensive lawyers.