In court, my ex said, “my son wants to live with me.” the judge asked my son, “is that true?” my son stood up, pulled out his phone, and asked, “may I play the recording from last night?” the judge froze.

The courtroom was quiet, not the kind of quiet that feels peaceful, but the kind that makes your heart thump louder than it should. My son, Zaden, sat just a few feet away from me, his little legs swinging off the edge of the wooden bench. He was only eight, but his face was older that day, like he’d aged in the minutes we’d been sitting there.

Damian, my ex-husband, stood tall beside his lawyer. He wore that same smirk he always did when he thought he was winning. He looked straight ahead, not at me, not at our son.

The judge adjusted his glasses, flipped through a few papers, and finally looked up. “Mr. Carter,” he said, “you’re asking for a change in custody. You’ve told this court your son has expressed a desire to live with you. Is that correct?”

Damian nodded confidently. “Yes, Your Honor. Zaden told me he’s not comfortable in his current living situation. He said he wants to live with me full-time.”

My stomach turned. I looked at Zaden. His hands were folded tightly in his lap. I wanted to reach for him, to shield him somehow, but I couldn’t move.

Related Posts

Zohran Mamdani faces backlash as old Columbus tweet goes viral again

Zohran Mamdani, 34, will become New York City’s next mayor, marking a historic victory. Many are celebrating, while others worry about the city’s future, calling him a…

Expert sound alarm over Zohran Mamdani’s shocking “character switch”

Zohran Mamdani is the new Mayor of New York after winning the election on Tuesday. The 34-year-old defeated independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and, during his victory speech,…

Who is Zohran Mamdani’s wife? Inside the life of Rama Duwaji

When Zohran Mamdani was declared the next mayor of New York City on Tuesday night, he made history becoming the first Muslim mayor and the youngest to…

“Mystery man” who donated $130 million to pay U.S. troops finally revealed

As the government shutdown dragged into its fourth week, frustration spread nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers faced missed paychecks, and essential services began to falter….

Trump sends cryptic 4-word warning after Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral win

Zohran Mamdani scored a historic victory in the New York City mayoral race. In his victory speech, he directly challenged Donald Trump — and the president’s response…

New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani drops 4 fiery words for Trump

In a historic landslide, New Yorkers have chosen 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani as the city’s next mayor, decisively defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With…