My girlfriend and I decided to start our life together. I was 25 at the time, and she was 22. I already envisioned our future: a cozy home, family dinners, the laughter of children.
She, however, often said that she wasn’t ready for such changes yet and needed more time. I loved her and tried to be patient, hoping that one day she would share my dreams.
Then, when we found out she was pregnant, I felt on top of the world. But her reaction was completely different. She said she didn’t want the baby and was planning to have an abortion.
I was shocked and tried to convince her, bringing up every possible argument. I talked about how wonderful it would be to raise our child and how this decision could impact her future.
After many conversations, it seemed she agreed to keep the baby, but with one condition: she would give it up for adoption immediately after birth.
Inside, I held onto the hope that the nine months of waiting would change things, that she would feel a bond with the child, but that never happened.
When our little girl was born, I was ready to be everything for her, while her mother simply packed her things and left with her parents to another city, abandoning us.
Four years have passed since then. During all this time, I have been both a father and a mother to my daughter. Sometimes my parents helped out. My daughter and I became a real team. Every smile and laugh of hers reminded me that I was doing the right thing.
But then, my daughter’s former mother unexpectedly showed up at our door.
— “Forgive me,” she said. “I shouldn’t have abandoned you.”
I stood there stunned, unable to answer immediately. How could I forgive a woman who had shown no interest in her child’s well-being all these years?
My little princess, as always, was hugging my leg and looking at this stranger.
— “Daddy, who is this lady?”
I didn’t know how to answer. Her mother? An acquaintance? A stranger?
I can’t forgive her, and I certainly can’t accept her back into our lives.
Maybe with time, I’ll be able to let go of the resentment, but trust and respect for this person can never be restored.