My sister Erin gave up her foster daughter after having a biological son—if only I knew she’d answer for it immediately. We hadn’t seen Erin in months. When she had a baby boy, the family traveled to celebrate, and I was excited to see both the newborn and my goddaughter, Lily. But Lily wasn’t there. “Where’s Lily?” I asked. Erin froze, glanced at her boyfriend, then shrugged. “Oh, I gave her back.” I was stunned. “You—what?” “I always wanted a boy. Now I have one. Why would I need a daughter?” I felt sick. “You GAVE HER BACK?! She’s a child, not a return item!” She rolled her eyes. “Relax. She wasn’t really mine. Just… temporary.” I snapped. “TEMPORARY?! She called you Mom, and you threw her away as soon as you had your ‘real’ kid?!” Erin scoffed. “She was a foster kid, okay?” I was shaking with rage when, suddenly, there were sharp knocks on the door.👇👇

There are moments that break you. For me, it was hearing my sister say, “I gave her back,” about her adopted daughter, Lily.

We hadn’t seen Erin in months, but when I visited after she had a baby boy, the yard was different, and Lily’s toys were gone. When I asked where Lily was, Erin said, “I gave her back.”

Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?” Erin explained, “I always wanted to be a boy mom. I don’t need a daughter now. Lily wasn’t really mine.”

I was stunned. “She was a child, not a toy you return,” I snapped. Erin dismissed me, saying, “Now Noah needs all my attention.”

Soon after, Child Protective Services arrived to investigate Erin’s adoption of Lily. Weeks later, I found Lily still in foster care and began the process to bring her home. Three months later, I was granted supervised visits. When I saw Lily, she hesitantly called me “Auntie Angie.”

“I’ve made a special room for you,” I promised, “and I’ll never leave you.”

Months later, Lily officially became mine. We worked through her trauma with love and therapy. Erin’s investigation ended without Noah being removed, but she had to take parenting classes.

As for me, I got everything I wanted. Lily, now six, is safe, happy, and surrounded by family. Sometimes, the family you fight for is the one that truly matters.