“Daddy said he didn’t want people making plans for him anymore.”
My chest tightened.
“He promised he’d watch me dance when he could walk.”
She twisted her fingers.
“But when I asked him last month, he got angry.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you already had too much to worry about.”
Then she whispered:
“Mom, I thought if I was good enough, neither of you would leave me.”
I couldn’t breathe.
My little girl had been trying to save our family.
By asking for less.
Less attention.
Less happiness.
Less love.
I held her face.
“Sophie, nothing you did could have made Daddy stay.”
“But maybe if I tried harder—”
“No, sweetheart.”
I shook my head.
“You didn’t cause this.”
She stared at me.
