Growing up with my mother hasn't been easy. She was on her own for a little while when I was 3 years old. My father was the kind of man that never made a commitment to his children or family. Sometimes I wonder when he was around, if he really cared? It would be on and off. He would ask to see my brother and I, but never show up. What kind of child deserves to be thrown out of your life like that? All we wanted was a father in our life; instead we got someone who didn't even care about us to begin with. There's always a positive outcome to things that happen in life, and maybe my father leaving was one of them.

Did you know I am in college now? Sometimes I wonder if you still think about my brother and I. I am living my life every day to the fullest without you. I am happy, I spend time with my family and friends. I'm moving on to a better life than my past. I'm proud to say that I don't need you to become the woman I am. My mom taught me to be who I was, not you. My mother taught me right from wrong. She even taught me how to tie my shoes. I never understood most of what was going on as a child. As I grew I heard stories and stories about what a bad man you were. Stealing from my family, or cheating on my mom. That's not a boyfriend — more importantly, that's not a father. What kind of person can do such a thing? You have responsibilities and instead, you throw it all away. I have so many questions, but I don't want to ask why anymore. Instead, I want to brag about the better life you have given me.

When you left, my mother met another man. He wasn't the same kind of man. He was someone who cared about my brother and I. The first time I met him he gave me a dollar bill. Right then, I knew this man was going to be my father, not because he gave me money, but because I could tell he loved my mom. I respected this man, I learned and grew to care about him too. Every day went by, years went by, and he was still a part of our lives. A few years after he married my mother, the decision of adoption was on the table for my brother and I. That would mean you, my biological father, would have to sign your rights over. I thought maybe reality would hit you then and there. But you signed papers and because of that, I have a better future ahead of me.

I look forward and learn that things happened for the best. But I want to say thank you. Thank you for giving my brother and I to a man who cares. Thank you for realizing you weren't the father we needed and someone else was. I did learn one thing from you, and that is when I have children one day to love them and be in their lives, because one day they are going to look back and learn from you as a parent.

Thank you for giving me a life you were never apart of, because this life is the one I have always asked for.