But before his dreams could unfold, a construction accident stole his life. Emma was only two years old.

At the funeral, I clutched Emma’s small hand while Melissa greeted people as coldly as a winter storm.

Once we were back at the house, I caught her packing her suitcase. She was twenty-seven then. “Take care of her,” she muttered when I tried to stop her at the throwing her set of house keys at me.

Outside, I watched her get into a luxury car with a smiling man in the front seat.

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