On a routine Tuesday, Erica’s quiet workday is shattered by a FaceTime call from her 15-year-old daughter, Sophie. Expecting a cheerful vacation update, Erica is instead confronted with Sophie sitting alone in a hotel room, her leg swollen and bruised. Sophie explains she fell on stairs the previous day while on a sightseeing trip with Erica’s parents, brother Mark, and cousins. Despite the injury, her family dismissed it, made her walk for hours, and left her alone in pain. Erica’s calm voice masks her internal panic as she promises to come immediately, even though flying triggers a severe phobia she hasn’t faced in over a decade.
Erica books the first available flight, bypassing fear and logistics to reach Sophie. On the plane, her anxiety peaks, yet it is overshadowed by anger at the family’s neglect and disregard. Memories of her own childhood—being labeled “too sensitive” and pressured to endure pain while her brother was praised—resurface. She realizes Sophie is experiencing the same dismissal she once faced, reinforcing Erica’s lifelong commitment to protect her daughter.
Upon arrival, Erica finds Sophie pale and exhausted but upright. Sophie reveals that her cousin Ben had pushed her, causing the fall, and that the family minimized the incident, echoing the patterns of Erica’s own upbringing. Erica insists Sophie tell the truth to the medical staff, and an X-ray confirms a non-displaced tibia fracture. The doctor warns that further walking could have worsened the injury.
Furious and determined, Erica contacts her parents to confront them about the neglect and the incident’s true circumstances. They respond dismissively, minimizing the harm and excusing Ben’s actions. Erica declares her intention to press charges, emphasizing that this is not a matter of overreaction but of protecting her child. Sophie, witnessing her mother’s unwavering advocacy, begins to understand the strength and protection Erica offers, breaking the cycle of neglect that has haunted their family.
