Ja Morant’s daughter, Kaari, had just turned 3 years old, but she already keenly felt the absence of her mother’s warm embrace. Ever since Ja had broken up with Kaari’s mom, the little girl’s world had been turned upside down.

Kaari had been too young to fully understand the complexities of her parents’ relationship when they were together. All she knew was the security and comfort of having both her mom and dad around every day. They would take turns reading her bedtime stories, play games with her in the park, and cuddle up as a family on the couch to watch her favorite cartoons.

But then one day, Kaari’s mom moved out, and her dad’s attention became more divided. Ja was often busy with basketball, traveling for games, and dealing with the stresses of his rising NBA career. When he was home, he tried his best to give Kaari all the love and care she needed, but there was an undeniable void where her mother used to be.

Kaari would ask when her mom was coming back, and Ja struggled to find the right words to explain the situation to his young daughter. He didn’t want to badmouth Kaari’s mom, but he also couldn’t fully hide the fact that their relationship had irreparably broken down. All he could do was hold Kaari tight and assure her that even though the family looked different now, his love for her would never change.

Some nights, Kaari would cry herself to sleep, longing for the comfort of her mother’s soothing lullabies and tender goodnight kisses. Ja’s heart ached seeing his little girl in such distress, wishing he could put the pieces of their family back together. But the split had been acrimonious, and he knew there was no going back.

As time went on, Kaari slowly adjusted to her new normal. Ja made sure she still got to see her mom on a regular basis, and he did his best to provide a stable, nurturing environment at home. But there was an underlying sadness that lingered within Kaari, a longing for the warmth and completeness of the family she once knew.

Ja knew he had to be both mom and dad for Kaari now. He would do whatever it took to make sure she felt loved, supported, and secure – even if it meant his own heart would continue to carry the weight of their broken family.