Amber
Evalie’s soft voice cut through the silence like a gentle wind. “All my friends live with both their mummy and daddy,” she said simply. “So why should I have to pick one?”
A murmur swept across the room again.
Evalie shrugged her tiny shoulders. “It hasn’t been very long since I met my daddy… but I want to keep seeing him. He listens to me and makes me laugh. And I love my mummy a lot and I want to be with her all the time.”
She twiddled with her fingers. “I love both my parents. Can’t I stay with both of them? Please?”
My vision blurred. I blinked rapidly, but the tears escaped anyway—silent, warm trails down my cheeks. Ian placed a hand over my knee and rubbed circles with his thumb. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing.
The judge gave Evalie a small nod and leaned in close, just enough that his voice lowered for only her to hear. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said. “You’ve helped me more than you know.”
Evalie smiled brightly. “You’re welcome.”
Ichika appeared beside her again, g
