It had always been our dream to have more children. She couldn’t have kids, so it was just the two of us—her, me, and my wonderful five-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, whom we both loved deeply.
We thought about it for months before deciding to take the big step and adopt. We wanted to offer another child a safe and loving home.
On the day of our visit, we arrived at the shelter and spoke with Mrs. Garcia, the director, for about an hour. She was a kind woman with gray hair and warm eyes. After explaining the adoption process, she took us to the playroom where children were laughing and playing.
Many of them allowed us to talk and play with them. We wished we could take them all home. But we were hoping to find that special connection.
While helping some kids with a game, I felt a light tap on the back of my head. I turned around and saw a little girl watching me with interest.
“ARE YOU MY NEW DAD?” she asked. I think you are.
I felt a chill run down my spine. It looked like my wife was about to faint. The little girl in front of me looked just like my daughter, who was at home with the babysitter.
When she reached out her tiny hand, I saw the scar. It was the same as my daughter’s.
My heart pounded. I swallowed hard and asked, voice trembling,
“What’s your name?”
The little girl smiled shyly and said softly, “My name is Angel.”
The name hit me like lightning. Lisa, my ex-wife, had wanted to name our next daughter Angel if we ever had one.
I stood up immediately and called her. As I waited for her to answer, my heart raced.
“David?” Lisa said, sounding worried.
“Lisa, Emily and I are at an orphanage. There’s a little girl here who looks like Sophia. She has the same birthmark. Lisa, can you explain this?”
There was heavy silence on the other end. Finally, I heard her weak breath.
“David… I… I didn’t think you’d find out.”
When she told me the truth, my world shattered: she had been pregnant with twins when we separated. She felt she couldn’t raise two babies alone without help or money, so she kept one and gave the other up for adoption.
“Angel is my daughter, Lisa, and she deserves to be with her family.”
She sighed on the other end. “I understand. David, take good care of her. She deserves everything.”
Angel still held the puzzle piece when I hung up. I knelt beside her and took her little hand.
“Yes, Angel. I’m your dad.”
With tears in her eyes, my wife hugged her. “We’re so happy to have you.”
Angel laughed and hugged us both. “I knew it. I always knew.”
When we got home, Sophia was waiting at the door with her stuffed bear. She was shocked to see Angel.
“Daddy, who is she?”
I knelt beside them. “Hi Sophia, this is Angel… your twin sister.”
Sophia’s eyes lit up, and she ran to hug her. From that moment on, they were inseparable.
Five years later, our home is full of love and happiness. Our girls share their travels and secrets in a way only twins can.
At that moment, I realized something: love doesn’t just find a way, it creates magic. This was ours.