Family is supposed to be about love and support, but for my sister Erin, love had limits. When she gave up her adopted daughter, Lily, after having a biological son, I was left heartbroken. Her cold explanation, “She wasn’t really mine anyway,” left me in shock. What she didn’t know was that karma was already on its way.
The moment that shattered everything was when Erin casually said, “I gave her back.” We hadn’t seen her in months, and when she had her baby boy, Noah, the family decided to visit. I brought gifts, including a teddy bear for Lily, my goddaughter. But when we arrived, something felt off. Lily’s toys, photos, and drawings were gone.
When I asked where Lily was, Erin replied, “Oh, I gave her back.” The room fell silent. She explained that she had always wanted to be a “boy mom” and that Lily, being adopted, was no longer needed. I was furious. “She’s not a toy you return to the store!” I shouted. But Erin dismissed me, saying Lily was “temporary.”
The word stung. Temporary? Lily had called Erin “Mommy” for two years. How could she just erase her from their lives? Erin’s boyfriend, Sam, tried to justify it, saying Noah needed all their attention. But I couldn’t accept it. Lily was a child, not a placeholder.
As we argued, there was a knock at the door. Two people from Child Protective Services (CPS) stood there. They had questions about Erin’s adoption process and her ability to provide a stable home for Noah. A neighbor had reported Erin’s decision to give up Lily. The investigation began, and Erin’s world started to crumble.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lily. I hired a lawyer and fought to find her. Weeks later, I discovered she was still in foster care. I transformed my spare room into a pink, butterfly-filled space, hoping to bring her home.
When I finally saw Lily again, she was smaller, her eyes filled with sadness. She asked, “Why did Mommy leave me?” I held her tightly, promising her it wasn’t her fault. “I’m here now,” I said. “And I’ll never leave you.”
Three months later, Lily officially became my daughter. The day we signed the adoption papers, she hugged me and said, “We did it, Mommy!” That word—Mommy—meant everything.
Lily turned six recently, surrounded by love and laughter. Erin may have abandoned her, but Lily found her way to me. Sometimes, the family you fight for is the one you were always meant to have.
