For two years, I walked my neighbor’s daughter to school. She called me Daddy. Then one morning, a man who looked just like her showed up, grabbed her hand, and told me he had a deal that changed everything.Two years ago, after finishing my night shift, I was walking home when I heard a child crying.It wasn’t loud, you know? Just the kind of crying someone makes when they’ve already been crying for a long time.I followed the sound. What else was I supposed to do?It led me to a little girl sitting by a dumpster behind an apartment building.She was wearing a school uniform, knees pulled to her chest, backpack on the ground beside her.

I crouched a few feet away. “Who is?””Everyone at school. Today is daddy-daughter day.” She sniffed hard and wiped her nose on her sleeve.”Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.””My dad’s in prison.” She kicked a small rock with the toe of her shoe. “And my mom died a long time ago. I live with my grandma, but she can’t walk well. She told me to go by myself.”