I Was 29 and Single When I Fought to Keep Five Siblings Together. The Judge Asked Why, and My Answer Changed Everything.

Judge Harrington looked through the file and then addressed Lucas with the aide beside him.

‘Lucas,’ he said gently, ‘you can answer only if you want.

What do you wish the adults would understand?’

Lucas looked at his shoes, then at the girls and his brother.

‘Sophie needs Nora when she wakes up.

Eli gets scared in new rooms.

Mia thinks she did something bad.’

‘And what do you need?’