Kyle had no idea what to do, but he stepped up. He found supplies in the backpack left with her and turned to online videos to learn how to care for a baby. He struggled through his first diaper change but did it. That’s when he realized—the baby was a girl.
He looked at her and said, “I guess it’s just us now.” He named her Lily.
Kyle registered her as his daughter, enrolled her in daycare, and adjusted to life as a single parent. Diapers, bedtime stories, and little milestones filled their days. They became a team—just the two of them. He even marked the day she came into his life as her birthday.
But two years later, everything changed with a knock at the door.
A woman stood there. She introduced herself as Cherish and said, “I’m here for my baby.”
Kyle was shocked. She explained that two years ago, during a difficult time, she had left her daughter—mistakenly thinking Kyle’s home belonged to someone else. Now, she wanted her back.
Kyle was heartbroken and furious. He had raised Lily as his own. But soon after, he was summoned to court.
Cherish came with a man named Burt, who admitted he might be Lily’s biological father. Cherish claimed she had turned her life around and now wanted to be in her daughter’s life. But when asked what Lily’s name was, she hesitated.
“She’ll take Burt’s last name,” she said.
That’s when Kyle stood up.
“Her name is Lily,” he said. “She has my name. I’ve loved her and cared for her every day since she came into my life.”
From across the courtroom, Lily saw Kyle and reached for him. “Daddy!” she called.
The judge smiled. “I think we’ve heard the most important voice. Custody will remain with Mr. Greenbecker.”
That night, Kyle and Lily celebrated by catching fireflies in the backyard. She called them stars and laughed in his arms.
To Kyle, Lily would always be the brightest one of all.