The courtroom was heavy with anticipation that day, its walls seemingly charged with the weight of countless lives hanging in the balance. After months of paperwork, interviews, and endless preparation, this couple sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for the moment they’d dreamed of: the judge’s approval to take their daughter home.
However, when the judge paused, scanning the documents with a puzzled expression, a chill ran through the room. She looked at the little girl sitting quietly beside them—her eyes holding something unspoken, something that made the air feel thicker. When the judge finally spoke, nothing could have prepared them for what came next.
