I didn’t think I would become a dad, especially not under the circumstances that happened. A lively and attractive woman from college named Molly got pregnant after a short relationship with Tanner, the captain of the football team. Molly was heartbroken when Tanner turned her down and the future child.
In a moment of kindness and conviction, I told Molly I would marry her and help raise the child. Even though she had some doubts at first, she agreed to the small wedding at the courthouse and we started getting ready for the birth of our daughter, Amelia.
I was amazed at how much I loved Amelia as she grew up. Even though Molly was having a hard time getting used to being a mom, I was determined to give her a safe and loving home. But Molly’s excitement about family life started to fade over time. She missed having the freedom and friends she had in college.
Molly told her boyfriend one terrible night that she couldn’t keep living this way. The tasks of being a mother made her feel stuck and smothered. At the end of the talk, Molly left without looking back, leaving Amelia and me.
The years that followed were hard, but I was determined to raise Amelia by myself. I did my best to take care of her, and we became inseparable. Molly, on the other hand, lived a relaxed life and posted pictures of parties and other social events on social media.
When Molly came back years later to say she was getting married to Tanner and wanted to take Amelia away from me, I was shocked and devastated. The custody fight that followed was very hard, but Amelia’s statement changed the judge’s mind in the end. I was given full custody, and Molly was given some visiting rights.
Raising Amelia has been the best thing in my life, as I think back on the journey. Even though it was hard and hurtful, I was determined to give my daughter a loving and safe home. She may have left, but I stayed, and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.
