I brought Lily inside, my hands shaking as I carefully picked up the car seat. She was sleeping peacefully, unaware that her mother had just abandoned her.

My first call after trying Amanda was to my parents. Their response still makes my stomach churn whenever I remember it.

“We told her not to have that baby,” my mother said coldly. “She made her choice and now she is running away from it. Typical Amanda.”

“But what should I do?” I asked, panic rising in my voice. “I can’t just keep a baby. I don’t know anything about caring for an infant.”

“She is your burden now,” my father said firmly. “We are done cleaning up after Amanda. We are too old for this.”