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

But one morning, everything changed.

I walked up to her porch at seven a.m., same as always.

This time, a man was there. He had her by the hand, and she was pulling back, trying to get free.

“Hey!” I hurried toward them.

She spotted me and screamed, “Daddy!”

The man turned to me.

He looked just like her… same eyes, same nose, but his expression was hard.

“You must be Daddy Mike. Come here. We need to talk.

I have a deal for you.”

And that’s when my heart dropped into my stomach.

I stepped to one side with him. Behind me, Marissa was still crying, whimpering my name.

The man didn’t bother with small talk. He just stood there with his arms crossed, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else.

“I’m Marissa’s uncle,” he said.

“Her dad’s brother. I’ve come to take her.”

“She’s alone now,” the uncle continued. “My mom, her grandmother, died early this morning.

Hospice called it in.”

“Yeah.” The uncle checked his watch. “I flew in, rented a car, and came straight here. I don’t have much time.”

Behind us, Marissa started crying harder.

“Daddy Mike, don’t let him take me!”

Continue reading…