My fathers wife became my second mother
I lost my mum when I was just eight years old. My father took it badly and started drinking too much; often, we didnt have proper meals at home. I ended up begging for food at school, got poor marks, and wore threadbare clothes. Eventually, the teachers noticed something wasnt right.
Social workers came round to our flat in Manchester a few times and, before long, gave Dad some harsh ultimatums. If he didnt clean up his act, theyd take me away from him. Luckily, those warnings woke him up. He gave up the drink, put his life back together, and after that, the visits from social services went off without a hitch.
Some time later, Dad told me he wanted me to meet someone new. We went to see his friend, Aunt Mary. At first, I wasnt keen; the loss of my mother was still raw, and I didnt feel comfortable seeing Dad with someone else.
But as we started talking, I instantly felt the warmth in Marys heart. I got on well with her son, Tom, who was a year older than me. The two of us started going together to athletics club after school. My dad was chuffed that things were working out. After a month, we moved in with Aunt Mary. Our old flat was let out to tenants, bringing in a bit more money for us.
Before Dad and Aunt Mary could marry, tragedy struck. Dad died in a road accident, hit by a car driven by a drunk driver. As far as the law was concerned, I was nothing to Aunt Mary. Social services took me to an orphanage. When I left, Aunt Mary promised me shed bring me back as soon as she could.
She stayed true to her word, and two months later, I was home with her again. Those two months were enough for me to taste the stern life of the orphanage. I was endlessly grateful to Aunt Mary for not abandoning me, for truly stepping in as my second mum. Shes a wonderful woman, and her son Tom became a real brother to me.
Now, were adults and have families of our own, but Mum Mary is still the one we go to first, for everything. Twice shes been a mother-in-law, but never once argued with us, and never heard the word mother-in-law from our lips. Both my husband and Toms wife call her Mum Mary, for her kindness and understanding. Each time shes called that, you can see pure joy in Marys eyes.
If theres one thing Ive learned, its that family is more about love than blood, and the people who choose to stand by you can become the most important in your life.
