Ethan had always believed that becoming a father meant making one promise: no matter how difficult life became, his children would never have to wonder if he was coming home.
For seven years, he kept that promise.
He worked long hours, came home exhausted, cooked dinner when Emma was tired, and spent his weekends taking Noah and Lily to the beach. Their life wasn't perfect, but it was happy.
Then, one morning, everything changed.
Ethan received a letter from immigration.
His green card application had been denied.
He read the letter three times, hoping he had misunderstood it.
He hadn't.
Because of an old paperwork problem connected to his immigration history, Ethan could potentially be forced to leave the United States.
His hands began shaking.
He immediately called Emma.
When she heard the news, she went silent.
“What does this mean?”
“I don't know,” Ethan whispered. “But they might make me leave.”
That evening, Ethan sat at the dinner table watching his children laugh.
Noah was telling a ridiculous joke.
Lily was trying to steal food from her brother's plate.
Ethan smiled at them, but inside, he was breaking.
Later that night, Lily walked into the bedroom carrying her favorite stuffed animal.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“Are you going away?”
Ethan froze.
Children weren't supposed to understand things like immigration problems.
But Lily had heard her parents talking.
Ethan pulled her into his arms.
“I don't want to go anywhere.”
“Promise?”
He swallowed his tears.
“I promise I'll fight to stay with you.”