Marcus’s expression went cold. “Sarah doesn’t want to speak to you. And you were explicitly told not to contact our workplaces.”
“This is an emergency! Our daughter has sent us some insane legal letter threatening us!”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a boundary. And you need to respect it.”
“We will not be threatened by our own daughter!”
“Then you’ll be dealing with the police. Goodbye, Robert.”
Marcus hung up and immediately called his HR department to report the call and request that any future calls from my parents be blocked. Then he called me.
“They’re starting already,” he said. “Called my work phone.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t apologize. This is exactly what Jennifer said would happen. They’re testing boundaries. We hold firm.”
At 5:47 p.m., as I was making dinner, someone knocked on our apartment door. Heavy, insistent knocking.
I looked through the peephole. My father stood outside, his face red and angry.
My heart was hammered. I backed away from the door.
“Sarah! I know you’re in there! Open this door right now!”
Lily looked up from her coloring book. “Mommy? Who’s that?”
“Just someone who has the wrong apartment, sweetheart. Keep coloring.”
My father pounded harder. “Sarah Marie! Open this door! We need to talk!”
I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and dialed 911.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“Someone is at my door refusing to leave. I’ve asked him not to contact me, and he’s banging on my door and won’t go away.”
“What’s your address?”
I gave it. “Please hurry. My daughter is here, and she’s getting scared.”
“Officers are on the way. Stay inside and don’t open the door.”
