years later, and somewhere along the way, Vivian began calling Mike “Dad” on her own. It was not something we asked for or expected. It simply happened.
By the time Vivian reached her mid-teens, she had grown into a bright, motivated young woman. She excelled in school and impressed her teachers with her focus and drive. They spoke about her potential in glowing terms, hinting at opportunities that lay ahead if she stayed on her path.
I was proud of her. Deeply proud. And perhaps too focused on making sure she never lost momentum.
Looking back now, I can see where things began to shift.
After one particularly positive meeting with her teachers, I came home excited, talking about advanced classes and continue reading …
