“But I'm supposed to be her mother.”
“And you're still my daughter.”
She looked at him.
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You are still my little girl, Emma. No matter what happens, you will always be my little girl.”
Those words became an anchor in her life.
Whenever the world made her feel ashamed, frightened, or inadequate, she remembered that her father still saw her as someone worthy of love.
For eighteen years, she believed his unwavering support was the greatest gift he had ever given her.
Only later would she discover how much he had kept hidden while trying to protect her.
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The Quiet Years of Building a Life
Raising Sophie did not become easy overnight.
There were setbacks, financial worries, difficult school arrangements, and years when Emma felt that she was constantly trying to catch up with people her own age.
While former classmates graduated, traveled, and entered adulthood at their own pace, Emma measured progress differently.
