Sophie stood behind me, fists clenched, eyes blazing.
“Don’t come here!” she yelled. “You’re mean!”
“Sophie,” I said gently, “that’s not polite—”
She shook her head fiercely. “They’re not my grandparents.”
Silence.
My mom’s face crumpled. “Sweetheart—”
“No!” Sophie cried. “Grandparents don’t leave Daddy when he’s hurt!”
The words hit harder than anything.
I looked at my parents.
Then back at my daughter.
And in that moment, everything became clear.
“Leave,” I said quietly.
And this time—
I didn’t watch them go with hope.
I watched them go with closure.
