“Was it you who left me at the orphanage doorstep?” asked Roman, staring at the strangers chest, where an identical birthmark stretched across his skin.
“Right, lads, time for me to go!” Roman shouted, leaping onto the moving trains step. His mates waved from the platform, someone trying to shout a last word. He grinned.
Three years had passed since hed returned from the army. In that time, hed landed a job, enrolled in university by correspondence. But thisjust packing up and leaving for another citywas a first.
His mates shared a history with himthe childrens home. Orphans, all of them, now grown with their own dreams, plans, lives.
Emily and Pete had married, taken out a mortgage, and were expecting. Roman was happy for them, a little enviousthe good kindbecause he wanted that too. But life had carved a different path for him.
Even in those early years at the home, hed wondered: Who was he? Whered he come from? Why was he here?
Memories were foggy, like fragments of a dream, but deep down, there was a warmthsomething good, lost to time. The only thing he knew was that a man had brought him. Well-dressed, about thirty.
Granny Nellythe old cleaner who hadnt retired yethad told him.
“I was sharper back then, eyes like a hawk,” shed said. “Looked out the window, and there he was, under the lamppost, holding the boys little hand. Couldnt have been more than three.”
“Spoke to him serious-like, like he was grown. Then the doorbellgone. I ran after him, but he was quick as a shadow.”
Shed know him if she saw him now. His nose was sharp, longlike a storybook villain. No car nearby, so he mustve been local. Didnt even put gloves on the boy.
Roman remembered none of it. But over the years, hed pieced it togetherlikely his father. Whatd happened to his mother? A mystery.
Still, hed been brought in clean, well-kept. Only one thing unsettled the staffa large, pale birthmark sprawling across his chest.
At first, they thought it a burn. Then doctors confirmeda rare kind, hereditary. Granny Nelly said these things ran in families.
“Oh, right, Granny, so now I should wander beaches checking strangers for birthmarks?” Roman had laughed.
But shed only sighed. To him, she was family. After hed aged out, she took him in
“Dont go renting some dingy room. Stay with me till you get proper housing.”
Hed held back tearshe was a man now. But how could he forget those nights after another “disciplinary” beating, weeping in her storeroom?
Hed always fought back, even against the older lads. Shed stroke his head and say
“Youre good, Roman. Honest. But life wont be kind to you. Not kind at all.”
Back then, he didnt understand. It took years to grasp her meaning.
Emily had been at the home since birth. Pete arrived later, when Roman was eleven. Skinny, tallPete was quiet, fragile. His parents had diedfake vodka. At first, Pete kept to himself.
Then came the day that bound them forever.
Emily was bulliedginger, small, quiet. Easy prey. That day, the older kids were ruthless. Roman stepped in. But he was outmatched. Within minutes, he was on the ground, shielding his face. Emily swung her satchel like a sword, screaming.
Thensilence. The kicks, the tauntsgone. Someone pulled Roman up. Pete stood there.
“Whyd you jump in? You cant even throw a punch.”
“Was I sposed to watch?”
Pete thought, then held out a hand
“Youre alright. Shake?”
And just like that, they were mates.
Emily stared at Roman like hed hung the moon. He covered her mouth
“Close that, youll swallow a fly.”
Pete laughed
“Listen, tiny. Anything happens, you come to me. Tell em youre under my wing.”
From then on, Pete trained Roman. Boring at firsthed rather readbut Pete knew how to push him. Soon, Romans grades improved, muscles grew, girls noticed.
Pete left the home first. Emily cried. He hugged her
“Dont. Ill come back. Never lied to you, have I?”
He didonce. Then enlisted. When he returned, Emily was packing. He walked in, uniformed, flowers in hand
“Im here for you. Wasnt the same without you.”
Shed grown beautiful. When she turned, Pete dropped the flowers
“Blimey. Youre a vision. Fancy being my wife?”
She smiled
“I do. Youre not bad yourself.”
After the army, Pete was stationed where Roman was headed now. Hed visit themespecially once the baby came. Hed be godfather. No one else.
Roman booked a first-class sleeperno skimping this time. Needed rest before workhe was a construction rigger now. Good pay, no overtimeleft time for uni, mates.
As he settled in, shouting erupted from the corridor. A man demanded someone vacate a compartment immediately.
Roman ignored ituntil a womans tearful voice joined in. Familiar. Like Granny Nellys. He peered out.
A young attendant stood trembling near the next compartment.
“Whats happening?”
“Some toff,” she whispered. “Old woman bumped his teaspilled on his shirt. Now hes carrying on like shes a criminal.”
The man roared
“Get out, you old hag! Stinking up the place!”
Roman stepped forward
“Easy, mate. Shes elderly. Made a mistakepaid her fare same as you.”
“You know who I am? One call, and youre off this train!”
“Dont care who you are. Jaws break the sametoff or not.”
The man fell silent. Roman turned to the woman
“Come with me. Take my compartment.”
She weptgrateful. The attendant watched, impressed. Roman grabbed his bag, unbuttoned his shirt. The man paled.
“Whats that on your chest?”
Roman shrugged
“Birthmark. Had it since birth.”
“My God”
The man sagged onto the bunk, fumbling with his own buttons. Beneathan identical mark.
“Was it you who left me at the orphanage doorstep?”
“Yes. I was a coward. Forgive me. I was married. Your motherMariancame to me. Said she was dying. Begged me to take you.”
“But my wife was due home. I panicked Took you to the home, then we moved. Years later, Marian found me. Shed survivedlooked for you. I told her you were dead.”
“Where is she now?”
“After her stroke, she went into a care home. Two years ago. Same city as yours.”
Roman said nothing. He left, approached the attendant
“I heard,” she murmured. “Rest in my compartment if you like.”
“Ta. Think I know which home he meant.”
He called in sick, explained. The attendantKatherinewent with him. Grateful for that. Too scared to go alone.
“Marian admitted post-stroke two years back?”
“Yes. Marian Phillips. Lovely woman. Always said she had no oneher son was dead. You?”
Roman shrugged
“Maybe her son. If its really her.”
“Go in.”
The woman in the wheelchair looked up from her knitting. Smiled. The nurse gasped
“Youre identical!”
Marian dropped her yarn
“I knew you were alive. Always knew.”
Two years later. Marian had rehabpaid for by Roman. She read fairy tales to her grandson while Katherine, his wife, cooked dinner. Today, theyd learned she was pregnant again
A story like thisyoud think it couldnt happen. But lifes full of surprises
What do you reckon? Drop your thoughts below. Cheers.
