Happiness in Fragments
Andrew received a call from his mother—she needed help hanging a shelf in her kitchen. The next day, he stopped by, but she wasn’t home. The flat was unlocked, just as she’d said. The shelf was there, but the drill was nowhere to be found. Maybe it was tucked away in the loft, crammed among old clutter.
He climbed onto a chair, opened the loft door—and there it was! As he tugged at the tangled cord, the drill slipped, knocking over a vase. It shattered into pieces. Andrew cursed under his breath, knowing how much his mother cherished it. He gathered the fragments, hung the shelf, and left. Over the phone, he promised to buy her a new vase for Mother’s Day, but she lamented the loss for ages.
Weeks passed, but nowhere could he find a matching vase. On the last Saturday before the holiday, he finally spotted it—in the hands of a young woman. The shopkeeper confirmed it was the last one in stock. Andrew apologised and explained how he’d broken his mother’s vase and desperately needed a replacement.
The woman, whose name was Emily, hesitated, then smiled and handed it to him. “Take it—spare yourself the scolding.” She chose another instead, and Andrew gratefully took the one he needed.
As they left the shop, they struck up a conversation. He cracked a joke; she laughed. Before long, he invited her to his mother’s for Mother’s Day. Emily was surprised but agreed.
The next day, they arrived together. His mother was delighted with the vase—and even more with Emily. “See, love?” she chuckled. “Everything happens for a reason. No broken vase, no meeting this lovely girl.”
From that day on, Andrew’s life changed. He and Emily spent increasing time together, strolling through parks, sharing films and books, making plans. When his daughter visited for the holidays, the two bonded instantly. Emily was moved by his kindness, and his mother often reminisced about the day her son shattered that vase, calling it fate. Emily, too, marvelled at how a chance encounter could blossom into something so meaningful.
Six months later, they married in a small, heartfelt ceremony. Andrew’s mother raised a toast, once again thanking fate for that broken vase. As he gazed at his wife, Andrew knew he’d found the one he’d been waiting for. And every time he passed that shelf, he smiled, remembering how a single accident had led him to a happiness he’d never dared to hope for.
Sometimes, life’s unexpected cracks let the light in.
