“Kyle? Is that you?” Kyle heard a familiar feminine voice. When he looked up from the sidewalk, he saw Tina’s friend, Mary, standing there with a concerned expression.

“Mary? What are you doing here?” Kyle asked, trying to hide his embarrassment. He hadn’t seen anyone from his old life in months.

“I was just running some errands,” Mary replied. “What happened to you? You look… different.”
Kyle sighed heavily and stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. “It’s a long story. Two years ago, after Tina left me for her new boyfriend, I had the worst time. Lost my job, lost my apartment… ended up living on the streets.”

“Oh, Kyle. I’m so sorry,” Mary said, her eyes welling up with sympathy. “I had no idea things had gotten so bad for you.”

Kyle nodded, feeling a mix of shame and relief. “It’s been rough. But I’m managing, I guess.”
“Listen, Kyle, there’s something important I need to talk to you about,” Mary said, glancing around nervously.

Kyle’s heart sank. He had a feeling this wasn’t going to be good news. “What is it?”

“Tina was pregnant when she left you,” Mary said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kyle’s eyes widened in shock. “Is this a joke?”

“It’s true, I swear,” Mary insisted. “She had a baby girl six months after she left you.”

Kyle felt like the ground had been pulled out from under him. “Oh God! Am I the father?”

Mary nodded, her eyes filled with tears. “Yes, Kyle. But that’s not the most shocking part.”

Kyle braced himself, his heart pounding in his chest. “What is it?”

“Tina dropped the baby at a shelter just months after she was born,” Mary revealed, her voice breaking.

“SHE DID WHAT?!” Kyle shouted, covering his mouth in disbelief. “How could she do that to our child?”

“I don’t know, Kyle. I just found out myself,” Mary said, tears streaming down her face. “I came to find you as soon as I heard.”

Kyle sank back down to the sidewalk, his mind racing. He couldn’t believe Tina would abandon their baby. “Do you know where she is? The baby?”

Mary nodded. “Yes, I found out the name of the shelter. It’s not far from here.”

Kyle felt a surge of determination. “I need to see her. I need to make this right.”

“I’ll take you there,” Mary said, reaching out her hand to help him up. “We’ll figure this out together.”

As they walked towards the shelter, Kyle’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn’t believe he was a father and that his child had been abandoned. But now that he knew, he was determined to do everything in his power to find his daughter and give her the love and care she deserved.
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When they arrived at the shelter, Kyle’s heart was in his throat. Mary spoke to the receptionist, explaining the situation. After a few minutes, they were led to a small playroom where several children were playing.

Kyle’s eyes scanned the room, searching for a child that might look like him or Tina. And then he saw her—a little girl with curly brown hair and big, curious eyes. She looked up at him, and Kyle felt an instant connection.
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“That’s her,” Mary whispered, squeezing his hand.

Kyle’s heart ached with a mix of joy and sorrow. He walked over to the little girl and knelt down, tears streaming down his face. “Hi there,” he said softly. “I’m your daddy.”
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The little girl looked at him with wide eyes, then smiled. “Daddy?”

Kyle nodded, his heart bursting with love. “Yes, sweetie. Daddy’s here. And I’m never going to leave you.”
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As he held his daughter for the first time, Kyle felt a sense of hope and purpose he hadn’t felt in years. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but with Mary by his side and his daughter in his arms, he felt ready to face whatever came next.