My wife, Claire, and I tried for years to have a baby. When that failed, she suggested adoption. It felt right. After months of waiting, we met Sophie — a bright-eyed 4-year-old who had been in foster care since infancy. From day one, she clung to us, calling us Mommy and Daddy before it was even official.
And then, one month after bringing her home, I walked in from work, and Sophie barreled into me, wrapping her little arms around my legs. Her voice trembled.
“I don’t wanna leave.”
Confused, I knelt down. “Leave where, sweetheart?”
Her lips trembled, and tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t wanna go away again. I wanna stay with you and Mommy.”
A cold chill ran through me. “That won’t happen,” I assured her, stroking her hair. But then, Claire stepped into the hallway, her face pale, her expression unreadable.
“We need to talk.”
I sent Sophie to her room, promising her everything was fine. She nodded, sniffling, and went, but I could feel her little heart racing against mine.
The moment her door closed, Claire turned to me, her jaw tight.
“We need to give her back.”
I blinked, sure I had misheard. “What?”
When she told me her reason, I took a step back
Simon and Claire fought for years to adopt Sophie, their dream child, after facing heartbreak from failed pregnancies. But when Sophie began to settle into their home, Claire suddenly became resentful. She wanted to give Sophie back, claiming she was causing chaos in their lives. Simon, however, refused. Sophie was his daughter now, and he would fight for her no matter what.
As Claire demanded an ultimatum—her or Sophie—Simon chose Sophie, understanding that the little girl needed him more than Claire did. After Claire left, Simon continued to care for Sophie, who struggled with the abandonment but slowly began to heal.
Months later, Claire returned, claiming she made a mistake, but Simon couldn’t forget how she had hurt Sophie. He couldn’t undo the damage. In the end, Simon chose to move on with Sophie, who was now starting to trust in the love she deserved.
Sophie had found her forever home with Simon, and the bond between them was stronger than ever.
