She reached toward the camera.
The screen went black.
Nobody spoke.
I couldn’t move.
For a moment, I forgot we were in a courtroom. I forgot about Tyler, the lawyers, and the judge. All I could think about was my sister sitting in that little office, five weeks before she died, planning for a future she desperately hoped she would get to see.
Wade Haskins stared at the table.
Tyler covered his face with both hands.
And this time, I couldn’t tell whether his tears were real.
The judge reviewed the evidence, including the messages, the medical records, and the guardianship documents.
He left Lily in Ray and June’s care while the legal proceedings continued. He denied Tyler’s immediate custody petition and referred the allegations of domestic violence to the district attorney.
Two weeks later, Tyler was charged with felony domestic assault.
In February, his lawyer sent a letter informing the court that Tyler would relinquish his parental rights, subject to the required legal proceedings.
