I turned cold and spoke firmly, “We don’t have any extra space at home. Adopting you isn’t possible. The orphanage receives plenty of donations from kind people. You’ll be taken care of and you won’t suffer.”
My husband looked at me, confused. It was as if I had suddenly become a different person.
“Honey, what’s going on? Cassie was just speaking from the heart. Why are you getting so upset?”
This made my daughter so scared that she tugged on her sleeve. Her eyes were full of worry and sadness.
Then she said, “Mom, this isn’t like you at all. You always said we should help others when they’re in trouble. That good people get rewarded. Cassie is a pitiful. Can’t we take her home?”
Despite their pleading, I held firm. “No. If you want to visit her, I’ll bring you here every week to do volunteer work." I told her. "However, I will not bring her home.”
“Ella, you’re our only daughter. Our one and only. You get all of our love and care. Are you really ready to share your parents’ attention with someone else?” I asked.
My daughter was still young, but after thinking it over, she slowly began to understand where I was coming from.
“Whatever you say, Mommy.”
I finally let out a breath of relief.