A week ago, I found out my wife, Laurel, had disappeared, and the news came from our five-year-old daughter, Alice. On a normal Tuesday, Alice called me, saying that Laurel had packed her things and left without explaining where she was going. Panicked, I rushed home to find Alice alone, clutching a note from Laurel saying she couldn’t live like this anymore. She had planned her departure while pretending everything was normal.
I searched for Laurel, but the police couldn’t help since she was an adult. Days later, I saw her on TV, explaining she left to chase her dreams. That night, she texted me, saying she didn’t want me to stop her. Realizing she never wanted our life, I let her go, filed for sole custody, and focused on providing Alice with the love and stability she deserves.
Despite the heartbreak, I knew we had our freedom now.
