As we left the house, I realized that this was the first time all week that I wasn't working. My work has recently kept me busy, stopping me from spending quality time with my daughter Ava. She was the source of my drive and heart. Too many of the responsibilities of being a mother and father swamped me. I got a dull pain in my mind when I thought of Alex, the guy who had made our lives so tough. Last week, his surprise visit to my workplace brought back feelings I thought I had buried for a long time. These feelings were full of anger and hatred.
As soon as I saw Ava's lovely face as we got into the car, I felt better. Her excitement extended to everyone else. These moments reminded me why I worked so hard: to make her happy. She was my prize, and everything to me.
The trip to the
