PAS: Things Were Fine - Until the New Man Came Along

Initially, she swore to me that she would "never" stop me from seeing my daughter. In the first 6-months after our divorce, I had the joy of having her staying with me for a several nights each week. Boy did I feel lucky considering what other men go through just to end up with every other weekend!

Oh, but the ex-wife bounced back rather quickly, she did! Right at about the 6-month mark, she had herself a boyfriend. Very soon thereafter he had moved into her house. It was then that things went quickly downhill. Two overnights every week soon were chopped to one night. Even that didn't last long. Soon, that one night was chopped down to me taking her home to sleep at mom's after I provided my daughter dinner.

Foolishly, I reluctantly agreed so as to not upset the apple-cart. I didn't want to wage a war with my beautiful daughter stuck in the middle. It was important for her to have a good relationship with her mom. I thought for sure that my time would increase because after all, wouldn't she want some private time with her new beau? Alas, that was not to be. In fact, it got worse with sudden accusations of my not caring for my daughter properly. I was now a bad influence on her. I was left with no choice but to try the legal route. What an eye-opening shock I was in for. All the court did was listen to mom and "generously" allow me to have 1 overnight every TWO weeks!!!

For mom, that was apparently too much for she would just be "out" whenever I drove by to pick up my daughter for my rare visitation. The destruction of my heart was complete when my lovely little girl began called the new boyfriend "daddy." I could see the confusion in her eyes when I would manage to catch her at home for a visitation night.

Out of money and out of work due to the stress of my ordeal, I moved away from my long-lost girl. Even though over the course of the next decade I sent monthly letters, cards, gifts on special occasions - I never heard word one.

I won't stop trying to make some contact and maybe when she turns 18 I'll give it another shot and see what has become of her. Until then, I keep the visions of her happy face burned on my soul for the rest of eternity, hoping that some day those letters and gifts will merit a reply.

~WTR

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