Sarah seemed like the best person to love my six-year-old daughter Emma, so I thought I had found the right person. The next day we were going to get married, and everything looked great. Then Emma gave me a drawing of Sarah that made me question everything I thought I knew about her.
The picture showed Sarah in a wedding dress, Sarah and I in suits, and a little girl whose face was crossed out with a big red “X.” Sarah had been telling Emma that she wouldn’t be welcome in our new family and would have to leave once we had our own children. Emma’s little voice told Sarah the terrible truth.
My world fell apart. As a single parent, I promised Emma that I would keep her from feeling the pain of her mother leaving her. The things Sarah said hurt me deeply, and I couldn’t stand the thought of my daughter feeling unwelcome again.
When I talked to Sarah about it, her casual answer chilled me to the core. “She’s from your past,” she told him. “She deserves a different kind of life… away from us.” I felt like someone had hit me in the face with her words, and I knew I had to do something.
I knew right then that I had to call off the wedding. My love for Emma was stronger than any duty I had to Sarah. I could not marry someone who did not love my daughter no matter what.
After that, things got tough. Some people thought I overreacted when I told our friends and family the news. But I was sure I had made the right choice. Emma has had a hard time getting better, but I’m dedicated to making her feel safe and loved.
When I think about the past, I see that sometimes the hardest choices lead to the best outcomes. I would never get married if it meant keeping Emma safe from people who want to hurt her.
Emma still asks me if I wish I hadn’t married Sarah. It makes me happy to know that I can spend the rest of my life making her happy. When she smiles back, I know I made the right choice.
It’s hard to make choices as a parent, but it’s always worth it to love and protect your child. Emma will always be my top priority, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure she knows how much I love, want, and care for her.
