For years, life felt stable.
Then she turned ten, and Jamal suddenly decided it was time to “step up.” Weekends, holidays, “quality time” — he wanted the title without the investment. We couldn’t legally stop him, and we saw the pressure building inside Amira.
She stopped calling me Daddy. Not because her feelings changed — but because she was trying to keep everyone calm. It hurt in a way I never said out loud, but I didn’t push her. I just kept showing up like always.
And then her text came.
When we got home that night, she went straight to her room. Zahra asked what happened, but all I could say was, “She wanted to come home.”
This morning, over pancakes, Amira finally told us why.
Jamal introduced her to a girlfriend she’d never heard of. The couple spent the entire time kissing, like they were in some cheesy movie. Then they had a loud argument that shook the walls. The girlfriend even called Amira by the wrong name — twice.
That was enough for her.
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