A move and a heartbreak
Three years into our marriage, my husband’s ex-wife got a job in another city—and took their daughter with her. It felt like someone had taken a piece of my heart with her. I never meant to replace her mother, but I still hoped to stay close, to hold on to that little piece of family we’d built.
At first, my stepdaughter didn’t seem to mind. I was a stay-at-home mom with more time for her, and our home had more space. But as she got older, something changed.
She became distant, guarded. Her phone never left her hand, and when I walked by, she’d quickly flip it over or shove it in her pocket. She often sulked when she was with us. I told myself, Teenagers need privacy. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was wrong.
