Family is supposed to be about unconditional love, but for my sister Erin, love had conditions. When she gave up her adopted daughter, Lily, after having a biological son, I was left devastated. Her cold words, “She wasn’t really mine anyway,” left me speechless. What she didn’t realize was that karma was already on its way.
The moment that changed everything was when Erin casually said, “I gave her back.” We hadn’t seen her in months, and when she had her baby boy, Noah, the family decided to visit. I brought gifts, including a teddy bear for Lily, my goddaughter. But when we arrived, something felt wrong. Lily’s presence was erased—no toys, no photos, no drawings.
When I asked where Lily was, Erin replied, “Oh, I gave her back.” The room went silent. She explained that she had always wanted to be a “boy mom” and that Lily, being adopted, was no longer needed. I was furious. “She’s not a toy you return to the store!” I shouted. But Erin dismissed me, saying Lily was “temporary.”
The word cut deep. Temporary? Lily had called Erin “Mommy” for two years. How could she just discard her? Erin’s boyfriend, Sam, tried to justify it, saying Noah needed all their attention. But I couldn’t accept it. Lily was a child, not a placeholder.
As we argued, there was a knock at the door. Two people from Child Protective Services (CPS) stood there. They had questions about Erin’s adoption process and her ability to provide a stable home for Noah. A neighbor had reported Erin’s decision to give up Lily. The investigation began, and Erin’s world started to unravel.
Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lily. I hired a lawyer and fought to find her. Weeks later, I discovered she was still in foster care. I transformed my spare room into a pink, butterfly-filled space, hoping to bring her home.
When I finally saw Lily again, she was smaller, her eyes filled with sadness. She asked, “Why did Mommy leave me?” I held her tightly, promising her it wasn’t her fault. “I’m here now,” I said. “And I’ll never leave you.”
Three months later, Lily officially became my daughter. The day we signed the adoption papers, she hugged me and said, “We did it, Mommy!” That word—Mommy—meant everything.
Lily turned six recently, surrounded by love and laughter. Erin may have abandoned her, but Lily found her way to me. Sometimes, the family you fight for is the one you were always meant to have.
