Some days divide life into “before” and “after.” For me, it was finding my children, Jake and Emily, sitting outside with their bags, waiting for a father who had tricked them. A fake message—written as if from me—told them to pack and wait. My heart broke as I realized my ex-husband, Lewis, had sent it, trying to manipulate them into leaving with him.
When he arrived, smug and unrepentant, I shielded my kids and called the police. The proof was undeniable; he was taken away, and a restraining order followed. That night, I promised my children they were safe and loved, that I’d never abandon them. Betrayal cut deep, but it gave me clarity too: love isn’t control, and strength is protecting your family, no matter what.
