My husband pushed me down the stairs, and as I lay shattered at the bottom, my mother-in-law called my father and said, “Come get your worthless daughter and take her back.” Dad gave her only one warning: “If she has so much as a scratch, your family will answer for it.” They laughed at him because they had absolutely no idea who my father truly was.

Then I went on with my day.

At the park, Lily climbed a wooden staircase toward the slide.

I watched her shoes tap each step.

For a moment I felt the old chill.

Then she reached the platform and waved.

“Mom! Watch!”

I raised my hand.

She slid down laughing and landed in a puff of sand.