My mother showed up at parent-teacher night pretending to be my daughter's mum and called child protection

She was standing outside Lily’s classroom like she belonged there.

I hadn’t seen my mother in two years. Not since she grabbed my arm so hard it bruised, and I told her we were done.

But at parent-teacher night, Gloria Chen was there. Smiling. Signing in as Lily’s mother.

Mr. Patel pulled me aside later. His face was grey.

“Maya, your mother requested a private meeting. She said she has concerns about Lily’s home environment.”

I couldn’t breathe. She’d done it before, back when I was a kid. The same story. “She’s unstable. She can’t cope. Give her to me.”

Then the DFFH notification came. A caseworker would be at my door within 48 hours.

I went home and opened my filing cabinet. Bank statements. Dated 2022. Transfer to Gloria Chen: $5,000. Repaid in full.

And screenshots. Texts from her: “You think you can cut me off? I’ll take Lily away. I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of mother you are.”

I brought it all to Mr. Patel the next morning.

He read the texts. Then the bank records. Then he looked up.

“This is malicious,” he said. “I’m banning her from school grounds. And Maya—you need to apply for a family violence intervention order. Now.”

I nodded. But I still feel sick.

Because even with the evidence, the caseworker still has to visit. And my mother is out there, telling anyone who’ll listen that I’m unfit.

The bruises healed years ago. But she knows exactly how to hurt me.

What do I do?