Story: The Day He Asked to See Her Again
When my phone lit up with his name, I felt something tighten in my chest. It had been years since he left—years of silence, of birthdays missed, of questions I had to answer alone. Now he wanted to reconnect with our daughter. She’s nine. He hasn’t seen her since she was four.
He said he’d changed. That he’d been working on himself. That he missed her. I wanted to believe him, but I couldn’t afford to be naive. This wasn’t just about him—it was about her. Her heart. Her trust. Her safety.
I didn’t say yes. Not right away. I asked questions. I watched how he responded. Was he defensive? Was he patient? Did he ask about her favorite color or just talk about how much he missed being a dad?
I spoke to a therapist. I spoke to my daughter. I didn’t tell her everything, just enough to prepare her in case this turned into another goodbye. She asked if he still liked pancakes. I said I didn’t know.
We agreed to a supervised visit. He showed up on time. He brought a book she used to love. He listened more than he talked. I watched from across the room, trying to read between the lines. Was this guilt? Was this love? Was this a performance?
Afterward, she said, “He was nice.” Then she asked if he’d come again. I told her we’d take it slow.
I’m still not sure what his true intentions are. Maybe he really wants to rebuild. Maybe he’s chasing redemption. Maybe both. But I know this: I won’t let her be hurt again just because he’s ready now. She’s not a second chance. She’s a person. And I’m her mother.
