Abandoned by my sister's dreams, I found a real family—until my parents returned 12 years later

At ten years old, my world split in two. My parents dropped me off at Grandma's "just for a little while" so they could focus on my little sister Chloe's gymnastics career. That brief moment turned into an eternity. Grandma did her best, but age and exhaustion were taking their toll. A few months later, my Uncle Rob and Aunt Lisa intervened. They couldn't have children and called me their "miracle child."

Little by little, they became the parents I'd always dreamed of. Lisa braided my hair and never missed a school event. Rob filled our days with dad jokes and late-night ice cream runs. At sixteen, they made their relationship official and adopted me. By then, my biological parents were gone: no more birthday cards, no more phone calls, no more support. I stopped reaching out to them at twelve.

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