The joy of bringing my newborn baby girl home was ripped away when I stepped into her room. Her beautiful pink nursery was destroyed, the walls repainted black, the crib broken, and all the toys were gone. But it was my mother-in-law’s cruel reason that shattered me most.The soft beep of monitors filled the hospital room as I cradled my newborn daughter, Amelia, in my arms. Her tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and I couldn’t help but marvel at her perfect features. Those tiny feet, button nose. She was PERFECT! The C-section had been tough, but holding her made it all worth it…”She’s beautiful, Rosie,” my husband Tim whispered, his eyes glistening with tears. I nodded, too choked up to speak. After months of anticipation, our little girl was finally here.

I thought of the nursery waiting for her at home with the pastel pink walls, the white crib, and all the wonderful stuffed animals arranged like a little army. Everything was perfect.That’s when a sudden knock at the door interrupted our moment. Tim’s mom, Janet, bustled in without waiting for an invitation.”Let me see my grandbaby!” she chirped, reaching for Amelia. As I reluctantly handed her over, Janet’s smile completely froze, replaced by a look of horror. She stared at Amelia, then at Tim, then back at the baby. She did this a couple of times before clearing her throat, her eyes boring into mine as if she were going to swallow me whole.