Months After My 4-Year-Old Daughter Died, I Saw a Man in a Chicken Costume – When He Turned, My Blood Went Cold

Their sirens wailed, and lights flashed red and blue across the asphalt.

Evan stopped running. He stood there holding Maddie, chest heaving, that ridiculous chicken costume making the whole scene even more surreal.

I stayed back while the police officers handled Evan.

I watched as they explained what was happening, as Evan’s face cycled through denial, anger, and resignation.

They led him away in handcuffs while he shouted things I chose not to hear.

And then I was alone with Addie.

She stood in the parking lot holding her pink balloon, tears streaming down her cheeks, looking lost and scared and so small.

A female officer crouched beside her, speaking softly, but her eyes kept finding mine.

I kneeled and opened my arms. Didn’t say anything.

Didn’t want to push. Just waited.

Addie took one hesitant step forward.

Then another.

Then she was pressing her face into my coat like she’d done it a thousand times before, like some deep part of her remembered even if her conscious mind didn’t.

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