Losing a stepchild, how do you cope?

I don't know how to move on from losing my step daughter.

I was with my ex for almost 6 years, I met his daughter a few days after her first birthday. I had a child of my own.

I to this day love his daughter as my very own. Her dad didnt do anything for her while she was in our care, I did everything. He was a lazy and very angry man.

We separated over a year ago after he assaulted me for the last time and the police put a protection order in place against him. I have been blessed to catch up with his daughter and her mum a few times since then and am so greatful.

Since separating I have had a whirlwind time, started seeing someone new and we were blessed with a gorgeous (surprise) baby girl in June this year.

For the safety of my children, my new partner and myself I need to cut off every connection to my ex, including his daughter. But I miss her so much, she is such a beautiful and loving girl and I honestly feel like I have lost my daughter.

How do I love forward without her? How do I grieve someone who is still alive and well.

I took her to her first day of school, I was the one beside her when she woke up from surgery, I was the one that cuddled her and comforted her when she was forced to stay with her dad and she just wanted to go home to her mummy. I've wiped her tears, watched her learn to walk and talk, toilet trained her and now I'm meant to move on as if she never existed.

I don't know if there's an answer out there but I thank anyone who made it this far.