I (29F) am a single mom to my 7-year-old daughter. Her dad walked out when she was three months old. He’s not dead, not in jail, just... vanished. No contact, no support, no birthday cards... nothing. I've done everything on my own, from sleepless nights to school applications and ER visits. So I guess I'm a little sensitive when people ask too many questions. I've read several things like this, but I still haven't been able to 'completely heal'

Anyway, last weekend I was at this cozy little farmer’s market in Portland, holding my daughter’s hand, trying to pick out strawberries. This random woman—maybe late 50s, yoga mom vibes, starts chatting me up. At first, it was friendly: “She’s so cute, what’s her name?” Stuff like that.

Then she goes, “Where’s her daddy today?”
I just smiled and said, “Not in the picture.”
She pressed: “Oh no... Did something happen to him?”
I should’ve just said, “He left,” but I was tired, emotionally and physically. So I looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Yeah. He’s in prison.”

She froze, clutched her eco-tote, and mumbled, “Oh, I’m so sorry,” before scurrying off like I had contagious trauma. It felt... satisfying. Like maybe for once, someone would feel bad for me instead of judging me for being “that young single mom.”

Later, I told my older brother (who’s basically my co-parent) and he told me I was being “dark and manipulative” and making people uncomfortable for no reason. He said, “You don’t need to lie to strangers just to feel morally superior.”

And I mean... maybe he’s right? I guess it was petty. But sometimes I feel like if I told the real story... that this dude just ghosted his own kid, people would secretly think I drove him away. Like it reflects worse on me than him.

So... AITAH for lying about my ex being in prison just to shut down a nosy stranger?