I’m 34 years old and have a 10-year-old daughter. I’m single and raising her on my own. Eleven years ago, I was involved with a married man. I got pregnant, and after that, we parted ways. It was my decision not to see him again, and I stuck to it.
To be honest, I never loved him. It was simply a relationship of convenience. He supported me financially and catered to my every whim. I deeply wanted a child and never considered abortion. He was never going to leave his family, and I never intended to marry him. They say, “You can’t build happiness on someone else’s misery.” So, I decided to walk away. It was a well-considered decision.
I was scared of having an abortion because of some health issues. I had always wanted a child, and the thought of being a single mother didn’t frighten me. My parents were supportive; there were no arguments or objections. They encouraged and still help me to this day, for which I’m immensely grateful. Deep down, I understood that I might not find someone to love. Men often hesitate to commit to a woman with a child. That didn’t matter to me. I was determined to become a mother. My daughter is the most beautiful girl in the world, and without her, my life would be filled with loneliness. I did go on a few dates, but nothing serious developed.
My daughter is in her fourth year at school. Recently, I found out that her classmate is the daughter of my former lover, who is her biological father. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. We unexpectedly crossed paths in the school corridor, and both pretended not to recognize each other. His daughter shares a desk with mine. Not exactly a pleasant surprise. I wanted nothing more than to forget about him and everything that connected us. I was ashamed of my past mistakes.
I never imagined we would see each other again. Now my main concern is that my daughter resembles him a lot. I’m worried that the girls might notice these similarities. I don’t want them to discover the truth.
I’m unsure how to handle this situation. Transferring my daughter to another school isn’t an ideal option; she has just settled in and made friends with her classmates and teachers. I might have to confess everything. I really don’t want to. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Everything was going fine, and now he’s back in the picture. I don’t know what to do next. This is tormenting me, and I can’t sleep, I could use some advice!
