100. Come Back

“Mommy, are they gone?” Kelly whispered, pushing open the door and making her way towards us.

I turned towards her and scooped her up into my arms. “Yes, honey. They’re gone,” I said softly as I carried her over to the couch in the living room, placing her gently down.

She looked up at me, her innocent eyes filled with expectation. “Is it Daddy?” she asked, her voice small but hopeful.

I hesitated, glancing at Brenda, who was sitting on the couch, her attention fixed on her phone. The weight of Kelly’s question hung in the air. How could I explain everything to her, a child who only wanted to feel safe and loved by the people she thought should protect her?

I opened my mouth to say something when the door creaked open. I looked up and saw Ivan standing in the doorway, watching us with a mixture of hope and regret. He was part of Kelly’s life, whether I liked it or not, but the complexities of our situation made everything more difficult.

I sat down next to Kelly, brushing a hand throu