I adopted my best friend’s daughter after her sudden death. When she turned 18, she told me, “YOU HAVE TO PACK YOUR BAGS!” I spent my childhood in an orphanage. No parents, no family, no one to recognize me. My best friend, Lila, had the same story.

A sad girl | Source: Midjourney

Social services arrived three days after Lila’s funeral. A woman with a file was sitting opposite me at the kitchen table.

“No one is willing or able to take care of Miranda.”

“What will happen to him?”

“She will enter the receiving system…”

“No.” The word came out more abruptly than I had intended. “He will not be part of the system.”

“Are you related to the girl?”

“I am her godmother.”

“This is not a legal designation.”

“Then make it official.” I leaned forward. “I’ll adopt her. I’ll sign all the necessary paperwork. She won’t be going into foster care.”