There Are Kind People: I Found a Family in a Strange House
Three years ago, I arrived in London from a small provincial town. I didn’t know anyone here. The streets were unfamiliar, the pace of life was frantic, and the people were strangers.
I was terrified.
I knew I was beginning a new chapter in my life, but deep down, I felt lost.
That’s when you said to me, Aunt Vera:
“Don’t worry, dear, we’ll help you. We’ll be like family to you.”
You already knew that I didn’t have parents.
Well, they’re alive, but they no longer existed for me. They did everything to separate me from Chloe. They were against our love, belittled her, pressured me, and forced me to make a choice. I couldn’t forgive them for that.
Fortunately, I had my grandmother, the only person who always supported me. Thanks to her, I could afford to rent a place and not live in a dormitory.
But if it weren’t for you and Uncle Mike, I’m not sure how I would’ve managed in those first challenging months.
You became family to me.
I remember my first day at university.
It was you, Aunt Vera, who asked Uncle Mike to give me a ride, so I could get used to the route. I recall how he waited for me after classes, holding an ice cream—it was unbearably hot, and he wanted to cheer me up a bit.
And when we returned home, the house was filled with the smell of fresh baking.
You had made your signature homemade treats and invited me for dinner. The next day, you did it again. And then it became a tradition.
I listened to my classmates complaining about mean and greedy landlords, high prices, and constant problems. But I proudly spoke about you.
They couldn’t believe people like you still existed.
You offered me not just a roof over my head but warmth too.
I’ll never forget my first Student’s Day – December 8th.
In the evening, the doorbell rang.
I opened it…and there stood Chloe.
A little further stood Uncle Mike, smiling slyly.
It turns out, you and he found her, talked to her, persuaded her to come back to me, put her in the car, and brought her here.
I couldn’t believe it!
I hadn’t seen such care, such genuine support, even from my own family.
If it weren’t for you, Chloe might never have come to this city. She wouldn’t have attended university here. We wouldn’t have been together.
But you didn’t just reunite us.
You welcomed her as you welcomed me. You didn’t raise the rent, didn’t create obstacles. You were simply there for us.
For that, I’m grateful to you.
You taught me to be a man.
Uncle Mike, I admire you.
You didn’t just help me survive in this city. You showed me what it means to be a man, to take responsibility for my life.
You helped me find a good job, so I no longer depended on my grandmother’s support.
You taught me important things—not with words, but with actions.
You showed me the right way to act in life.
Now, I feel stronger.
We’ll try to make you as happy as you made us.
Yesterday, Chloe and I were reminiscing about an old song where the tenant gets a cup of coffee and a croissant from the landlady in the morning.
We decided: from the New Year, we’ll greet you every morning with freshly brewed coffee.
For now, that’s all we can do for you.
But trust us, we’ll make sure to repay you as you deserve.
And now – our main surprise.
Finally, we wanted to share this news with you in a letter.
Chloe is expecting!
When we saw the positive test result, we were overwhelmed with joy.
You got worried back then, thinking we’d had an argument…
No, it was pure happiness!
Once, you gave me a chance. Then you helped Chloe find her way back.
Now it’s time to welcome a new life.
We’re sure you’ll be as happy as we are.
Our little one is due in August.
And if it weren’t for you, none of this might have happened.
Thank you.
Take care, our dear ones. Without you, our lives wouldn’t have been so bright.
