ALMA

"Mommy, do I have a dad or are my classmates lying?" Velma asked, looking up at me with curious eyes.

The question almost knocked me out. It felt unreal for a second there and I crouched down beside her, taken aback by the question. "Who told you that, sweetie?" I asked, trying to buy some time.

"They're talking about it at school," Velma replied, her brow furrowed. "They say you and he didn't live together, but he's my father, right? And that means I have a complete family, right? ...