I Walked My Neighbor’s Daughter to School Every Morning — One Day, My Life Turned Upside Down Because of It

She looked up at me, startled, like she’d forgotten other people existed. Her eyes were red and swollen.

For a second, I thought she might run.

“They’re all gonna have their dads,” she said.

I crouched a few feet away. “Who is?”

“Everyone at school. Today is daddy-daughter day.” She sniffed hard and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.”

“My dad’s in prison.” She kicked a small rock with the toe of her shoe. “And my mom died a long time ago. I live with my grandma, but she can’t walk well.

She told me to go by myself.”

Something inside me broke then.

See, I had always wanted a family. I was 56 years old, and once, a long time ago, I’d been a happy man.

I’d had a fiancée I loved.

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