She hesitated, glancing back at the chapel doors, fear evident in her eyes. “When you’re at work, she yells if I make a mess. She says I’m ruining everything. And she hides my toys. I’m scared, Daddy.”

The weight of her words settled heavily on me. This wasn’t just the imagination of a grieving child. This was real, and it needed to be addressed immediately. I needed to protect Lily, to ensure she felt safe and loved.

I held her close, whispering promises of safety and understanding. My heart ached with the realization that I had overlooked her discomfort in my quest for happiness. Today was supposed to be a new beginning, but not at the cost of my daughter’s well-being.

We stayed there for a while, just the two of us, as I reassured her over and over, determined to make things right.