{"id":14088,"date":"2025-09-20T15:57:03","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T15:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=14088"},"modified":"2025-09-20T15:57:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T15:57:03","slug":"14088","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=14088","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIsla, would you be willing to speak today? Only if you\u2019re comfortable, sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Isla looked up, eyes darting between the judge, her foster mom, and me. Her small fingers reached down and brushed Moose\u2019s thick, chocolate-colored fur. The dog gave a gentle wag.<\/p>\n

And then, Isla nodded.<\/p>\n

The courtroom held its breath.<\/p>\n

The bailiff brought over a cushioned chair and a small step stool. Isla climbed up, Moose following. He laid beside her, head resting on her shoe.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know why we\u2019re here today?\u201d the judge asked gently.<\/p>\n

Isla whispered, \u201cBecause someone wants me to live somewhere I don\u2019t want to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

I clenched my fists under the table. It was more than \u201csomeone.\u201d It was the man who claimed to be her father\u2014the man whose past we couldn\u2019t fully pin down but whose name made Isla flinch in her sleep.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIsla, would you be willing to speak today? Only if you\u2019re comfortable, sweetheart.\u201d Isla looked up, eyes darting between the judge, her foster mom, and me. Her small fingers reached down and brushed Moose\u2019s thick, chocolate-colored fur. The dog gave a gentle wag. And then, Isla nodded. The courtroom held its breath. The bailiff brought…<\/p>\n

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