My voice trembled. “What’s your name?”
She smiled shyly. “Angel.”
The name hit me like a wave. My ex-wife, Lisa, had once told me that if we ever had another daughter, she wanted to name her Angel. My heart was pounding as I pulled out my phone and called her. She answered cautiously.
“Lisa,” I began quietly, “Emily and I are at a shelter. There’s a little girl here who looks exactly like Sophia… same mark. Can you explain this?”
There was a long pause. I could hear her slow, uneven breathing before she finally spoke. “David… I didn’t think you’d ever find out.” Then the truth came out—when we separated, she had been pregnant with twins. Overwhelmed and alone, she decided to keep one baby and place the other for adoption, believing it was the only way.
I closed my eyes, taking in the weight of her words. “Angel is my daughter,” I said firmly. “She belongs with her family.”
Her voice was soft. “I understand. Please… just love her and give her the life she deserves.”
When I hung up, Angel was still holding a puzzle piece. I knelt beside her and gently took her hand. “Yes, Angel,” I said with a smile, “I’m your dad.” My wife’s eyes welled with tears as she wrapped her arms around Angel. “We’ve been waiting for you,” she whispered. Angel grinned and hugged us both. “I knew it all along,” she said.
That afternoon, we brought her home. Sophia stood at the door holding her stuffed bear. She froze when she saw Angel. “Daddy, who is she?” she asked.
I crouched down so I could see them both clearly. “Sophia, this is Angel,” I said gently. “She’s your twin sister.” Sophia’s eyes widened, and then she ran into Angel’s arms. They hugged like they had been waiting for that moment their whole lives.
From that day forward, they were inseparable. Now, five years later, our home is filled with their laughter, shared secrets, and a bond only twins can understand. I’ve come to realize something beautiful—love doesn’t just find a way. Sometimes, it creates miracles. And Angel was ours.