At the age of 13, she gave birth to a child, and 18 years later, on her daughter’s birthday, she received a letter from the hospital after which the girl’s father admitted for the first time that he had been hiding the truth.

Sorry I waited so long.

You have the right to know where you come from. You also have the right to decide who deserves a place in your life.

Whatever you choose, remember that you are never responsible for the cruelty of the adults around you.

I love you, my daughter.

This

Emma left the letter.

She couldn’t speak for several minutes.

For years she remembered her father as the man who saved her from a world ready to condemn her.

Now she realized he had fought battles she had no idea existed.

But another feeling appeared in her heart.

He hid something from her.

Even if he did it out of love, he made a decision about her past, not letting her decide what she wanted to know.

“Did he tell you anything else?” she finally asked.

Elisabeth nodded.

“He said Lucas’ mother regrets what happened. But he also made it clear that regret is not the same as taking responsibility.”