About a decade ago, my aunt remarried. He was divorced, too. His first wife had two very young daughters from an earlier relationship -- their father was no longer in the picture -- that he adopted. When that marriage ended, his ex-wife decided to move away and convinced him to give the girls up. She argued that he wasn't biologically related to them in any way, that starting a new life would be wrenching for the girls as it was and it would be easier for them if it was a clean break. He was reluctant to do this, but his ex-wife really pressed it. She married again and her latest husband adopted the girls.
He was never comfortable with what had happened. He cared about those girls. He heard from the older one a few times each year, but never from the younger one. She wanted nothing to do with him. She was wrestling with drugs and other demons.
It turns out the younger girl -- now age 25 -- was murdered earlier this month. She was buried on the 19th. The older girl just contacted him last night with the news. He never got a chance to say goodbye.
According to my aunt, her husband is reeling. In shock, as I can imagine.
Actually, no I can't imagine it.
PLEASE NOTE: I
think I have accurately told the story of his legal relationship to the girls. I don't know that I'm 100% right, but today is not the day to press my aunt for details.
