2/ MY 5-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CALLED ME AT WORK: “MOM LEFT WITH HER

on the seventh day, he sees Laurel on TV—competing in a talent show, singing with a raw passion he never knew she had. The truth hits him: Laurel never wanted their life, she wanted to chase her dreams. When he confronts her through a text,

she admits she left because she knew Kevin would try to stop her. Kevin makes the hardest decision of his life: to let her go. He files for sole custody of Alice and moves on, realizing that Alice deserves a mother who wants to be one. In the kitchen, Alice asks if her mom is coming back. Kevin softly tells her no, but assures her that her mother’s departure wasn’t her fault. He hugs her, offering comfort and love, even as they move forward, together.