He left us almost a year ago for a woman from his office and completely disappeared—no calls, no support. Every night my five-year-old, Lily, asked when Daddy would come back. I lied to comfort her.
Then last week he called, apologized, said he’d changed and asked to take Lily for the weekend. Torn but thinking of her, I agreed. He sent photos of them smiling, and I allowed myself to hope.
Sunday came and went. He didn’t return her. My sister called in a panic—she’d seen him with that woman at the county clerk’s office. They were signing papers. He was filing for full custody, using his weekend with Lily as evidence. He wasn’t reconnecting—he was trying to take her and give her to that woman. What I thought was his return was a lie, and in hoping for Lily’s happiness, I’d given him what he needed to try to take her.