Determined to find her, I reached out to Suzie’s friends. One revealed that Suzie had felt trapped by the pregnancy and my mother’s relentless criticism. But despite months of searching, Suzie disappeared.One year later, I received a photo of Suzie holding the twins at the hospital,
accompanied by a message: “I hope you forgive me.” I knew then that she was alive and still cared. But the pain of her absence lingered.Then, on the twins’ first birthday, Suzie returned. She apologized for leaving and shared how postpartum depression and my mom’s harsh words had overwhelmed her. Therapy had helped her heal, and she was ready to come back.We rebuilt our family, step by painful step, but with love and resilience, we learned to move forward together.