When my father’s new wife kicked me out of my room and into the shed, I thought I’d hit rock bottom. Mom’s surprise visit and shocking revelation about the house turned everything upside down, leaving me to wonder if I’d ever feel at home with Dad again.

I arrived at Dad’s house, feeling uneasy. Kim, my stepmom, greeted me with a fake smile. “Michelle, come in,” she said. My stepbrothers, Sam and Leo, barely acknowledged me, glued to their new laptops. “Where’s Dad?” I asked. “Working late,” Kim replied. “We need to talk about sleeping arrangements.”

My heart sank. “What about them?” Kim fidgeted. “The boys need your room. We’ve set up the shed for you.” Stunned, I asked, “The shed?” “Just until the boys go back to university,” she said. Defeated, I trudged out to the musty shed. How had it come to this?

The next morning, Mom called. Seeing the shed, she was furious. “Get your things. We’re talking to your father.” She stormed into the house, demanding answers. “Why is our daughter sleeping in a shed?” Dad looked startled, and Kim protested. “This house belongs to Michelle,” Mom revealed. “In a year, she’ll own it outright.”

Kim was shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Dad admitted he didn’t think it was important. Mom set them straight: “From now on, Michelle sleeps in her room. End of discussion.” Dad called daily, apologizing profusely. When I finally returned, Dad promised things would change. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.