When I tried to talk to my stepson, he wouldn’t say much. That night, he texted me a long message—saying he always felt like an outsider, like he didn’t truly belong in our home.
That’s when I realized… he wasn’t trying to be creepy. He was lonely. Awkward. Struggling to feel connected to a family that never fully welcomed him.
Still, my daughter’s comfort mattered. I asked my husband if his son could stay with his mom for a while, just until we figured out how to reset things and make everyone feel safe.
Now, my husband’s angry, my daughter’s distant, and my stepson won’t answer my messages. I did what I thought was right—but now I wonder… did I protect one child at the cost of losing another?