It was a moment I’ll never forget. I had raised Amelia—through every milestone, every scraped knee, every bedtime story. I stayed calm, but firm. “She is with her family,” I told her.
We went to court. I knew it could be an uphill battle. But then something happened that touched everyone in the room.
Amelia stepped onto the witness stand. She was nervous, but her voice was steady.
“I know who loves me,” she said. “My dad makes me breakfast, helps me with homework, and checks under my bed for monsters. He knows me. He’s always been there.”
The courtroom was silent. Molly looked heartbroken. Even the judge had to pause before announcing the decision.
I was granted full custody.
When the hearing ended, I hugged Amelia tightly. Tears ran down both our faces. In that moment, we weren’t just father and daughter—we were a team. Whatever challenges life might bring, we knew one thing for sure: we’d face them together.