This article appeared in thefashionball.com and has been published here with permission.
When this man first adopted his daughter, he simply could not understand why nobody had wanted to adopt her. For 28 years, this question hung over his head as she turned out to be the perfect daughter — loving, kind, and incredibly caring. The bond between this father and daughter remains strong throughout it all… Even when the answer to this question finally reveals itself so many years later.
The Spring of 1990
In the Spring of 1990, an unknown figure approached the Weatherstone Orphanage. It was a very cold night, and the cobblestone streets were slick from the pouring rain. Like a scene out of a movie, lightning flashed across the sky, and the distant rumble of thunder could be heard throughout the small town.
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The orphanage was nestled amongst the hills of the surrounding countryside. Made entirely out of weathered bricks, it was easy to see just how old the establishment actually was. As the figure climbed the steps towards the front door, the cries of a baby could be heard.
The Visitor
When the unknown person reached the front door, they quickly crouched down to lay a small bundle of blankets on the ground. Within these blankets, the crying only intensified. Even though there was nobody around, the person was visibly nervous and scanned their surroundings as though they were being watched.
They were obviously in a rush, but they still took a second to gaze at the pile they had just laid to rest on the ground. If there had been somebody around, they would have noticed a sad expression overtake the person’s face.
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The Most Unexpected Arrival
With that last apprehensive glance, the figure turned around and darted back down the cobblestone path. The baby continued to cry, a beacon of vulnerability in the storm that raged on.
The caretakers of the orphanage awoke to the piercing cries of the new orphan and quickly rushed to the front door to see what the fuss was all about. With apprehension, they brought the baby inside.
The Winter of 1992
Connor and Elizabeth had been together for many years, and their marriage was like something out of a fairytale book. Most days were filled with plenty of love, laughter, and shared dreams of starting their own little family. However, this had never come to fruition.
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While Elizabeth could not fall pregnant herself, the couple was more than open to the idea of adoption. Seemingly the perfect parents, it was safe to say that they wouldn’t have any trouble being approved for adoption.
The Story of a Photograph
On one cold Autumn morning, Connor opened the newspaper to see a photograph of a young child who was living within the walls of the Weatherstone Orphanage. It was an unexpected discovery, but Connor immediately felt drawn to the little girl staring back at him.
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He called Elizabeth over to have a look for herself, and she agreed that they should go and meet the girl in the photograph. It was obvious that she was just as excited as he was, if not more.
An Unspoken, Yet Unbreakable Bond
The couple wasted no time in driving to the orphanage. There, they were welcomed by the sound of laughing children. However, one child in particular caught their eye – a young girl with bright blue eyes and an infectious smile – the girl from the photograph.
The caretaker introduced her as Jessica, and the couple immediately felt a connection to the little girl. They spent the next few hours interacting with and getting to know Jessica. Elizabeth and Connor both came to the realization that family was more than blood.
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The Adoption Papers
At that moment, they knew that Jessica was destined to be a part of their family. Brimming with a new sense of love, hope, and happiness, Elizabeth and Connor informed the caretakers that they wanted to move forward with the adoption process.
That evening, the new family of three climbed into the car and headed towards their home. Jessica, nestled between her new parents, felt happier than she could ever remember.
The Early Spring of 1993
In the Spring of 1993, Connor and Jessica’s world came crashing down when Elizabeth suddenly passed away. Just a few months earlier, she had been diagnosed with a sudden, aggressive illness that left her with little hope.
Connor was suddenly a single parent. This was something that he could never have imagined, and he felt as though he couldn’t face parenthood without his beloved wife.
Promises
However, even though he had always planned to navigate parenthood with his wife, he knew that he had to be strong for his daughter. Silently, he made a promise to himself and his late wife that he would do everything to be the best father possible.
Every day, he tried his best to mask his grief for the sake of his daughter, even though he was carrying an unbearable sorrow. He had to be strong for her to help her have a happy childhood, even though he was heartbroken.
Resilience
Even though Jessica was still so young, she was mature beyond her years. She offered Connor a sense of comfort through her innocent presence. At night, the father and daughter would discuss better times – those that had passed and those that were still to come.
Connor would share stories of Elizabeth, which always made him feel a bit better. Every day, he started to see more and more of his late wife in his new daughter. They both had the same passion for life and loving energy.
Becoming a Single Parent
Being a single parent is no easy job. The weight of the task bore down on Connor every single day. However, he never failed to rise to the occasion. In fact, he only seemed to grow as a person with every challenge that he encountered.
At night, when he would lie alone in bed, he found comfort in the memories of his wife. Thanks to his daughter, he never truly felt alone anymore.
December of 1999
During December of 1999, Connor was doing incredibly well at work. He had found his passion in the bustling world of technology and worked as an engineer for a start-up company in town. Most days consisted of system testing.
However, there was an impending sense of anxiety in the office, as a new software bug, called the Y2K Bug, had begun causing problems for companies like his.
Anxiety Over the Y2K Bug
Rumors of potential glitches and system malfunctions started to spread across the office. Understandably, this led to a sense of uncertainty about the company’s future.
One morning, an emergency meeting was called to discuss the impact of this bug and what it meant for the employees. The air was thick with tension as Connor and his colleagues piled into the room.
Changes in the Workplace
The company executives delivered less-than-ideal news. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Y2K Bug, they had decided to lay off a number of staff members in order to streamline the business. This included members of Connor’s department.
Connor sat in disbelief, anxious about his future. A wave of apprehension swept over him. However, his main concern was Jessica and what this meant for her. How was he going to explain to his only daughter that her father could no longer provide for her?
Reassurance Amidst Uncertainty
That evening, Connor did his best to explain the situation to Jessica. He wanted to reassure her that he would find a new, better job that would bring in the same – if not more – money than before. More so, he didn’t want her to think that anything would change.
She was still his number one priority, and he would always make time to spend with his little girl. The next day, he immediately began looking for new work opportunities by contacting former colleagues that he had once worked with.
New Beginnings
He remained optimistic that the opportunities would begin to present themselves, even though things moved slowly at the start of his new job hunt. However, his dedication to his daughter remained as strong as ever, and he knew that he would not let her down.
The clock was ticking down to the new millennium. On New Year’s Eve, Connor and Jessica stood together under the night sky, excitedly watching the fireworks show. Connor looked at his daughter and knew that he would do anything for her.
The Summer of 2003
In the Summer of 2003, Jessica was on the cusp of her teenage years. Most of her days were spent playing outside and riding bikes with her friends. Like most children, she was blissfully unaware of the sacrifices that her father made for her.
Life was anything but easy for Connor. However, seeing how happy his daughter was made all of the work well worth it.
Unseen Sacrifices
Since being fired from his previous position, Connor had taken up two different jobs in order to maintain the same income. On top of this, he had a part-time weekend job. Mornings began incredibly early for Connor, and he would often get home after dark.
However, he always made time to spend with his daughter. You could say that he actually had four jobs, as parenthood is no easy feat.
Fatigue
On some days, Connor made sure to get home before Jessica. This way, when she opened the front door, he would be there with a warm smile, eager to hear about her day. He was very good at masking his fatigue, even though it was so prominent.
Behind the walls of their house, Connor ensured that Jessica’s life remained as simple as possible. He never wanted the complexities of his work stress to influence her childhood or happiness.
The Struggle of a Single Father
Behind closed doors, however, Connor was struggling. His life was one major balancing act. With two full-time jobs, one part-time job, and a daughter, he hardly had any time for himself.
On the weekends, he wanted to spend as much time with Jessica as possible. Over time, he became a master of multitasking, seamlessly integrating his career responsibilities with the responsibilities of being a single parent.
The Spring of 2013
In the Spring of 2013, Connor sat in the crowd of proud parents, lovingly gazing at his daughter as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. He was overcome with a sense of pride, love, and nostalgia as his little girl was all grown up.
Jessica had graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Connor had known from the moment that he laid eyes on her that she was destined for greatness, and she had never let him down.