Uncle, pleasetake my little sister, the child’s voice cracked, thin as a winter wind.
After I told my wife that her daughter wasnt really my responsibility, the truth about our family finally came out.
I cannot make sense of why I ever became his wife. We were married not long ago. Id been convinced my
I’ll Always Be With You, Mum: A Heartfelt True Story That Will Make You Believe
Grandma Val couldn’t wait for the evening to arrive. Her neighbour Natalie, a kind-hearted woman in her late forties, had told her something so extraordinary that her head was spinning. And to prove her point, Natalie had even invited her round in the evening to show her something special.
It had all started with a simple chat that morning. Natalie popped in on her way to the shop:
“Need me to pick anything up, Gran Val? I’m off to the corner shop for bits and pieces and fancy baking a pie.”
Gran Val replied, “You’re such a good soul, Natalie. I’ve known you since you were a girl. It’s a shame you never settled down, always on your own. But you never seem sad, not like some.”
“What’s there to complain about, Gran Val? I do have someone I love, I just can’t live with him yet. Why, I’ll tell you the story this evening over a cuppa. Bet you’ll be glad for me—and stop worrying!”
Natalie brought Val some bread and sweets for tea, and soon they were settled with mugs in hand, Val itching with curiosity. Natalie smiled knowingly and began:
“You remember, Gran Val, what happened to me all those years ago. I was nearly thirty. Had a lovely man, we were planning to marry. I wasn’t in love, but thought, well, he’s good. Why not have a family? He moved in, I got pregnant. At eight months, I had a little girl. She lived just two days before I lost her.
I thought I’d never get through it, parted ways with my fiance. Couple of months later, I began to pull myself together. And then—something happened.
In the night, I started hearing a baby crying. At first, I thought it was just my grief. But the crying kept coming. I went to the cot I’d set up—and there she was. My little girl. I picked her up, and she smiled, closed her eyes, and slept.
And since then, she’s come to me almost every night. She lives in another world now, has a mum and dad there. But she still visits me. Sometimes, she brings little gifts—though they never last, fading away like spring snow…”
Gran Val stared, hardly breathing, savouring the tale, and agreed to visit Natalie that very evening.
In the quiet cheery kitchen, as the air shimmered, a gentle glowing girl appeared. “Hello, Mum! It’s been such a wonderful day, I brought you these flowers.” And she turned to Gran Val: “Oh, hello! Mum said you wanted to see me. I’m Marianne…”
After she faded, Gran Val could only whisper, “Well, I never. It’s all true, after all. Your girl’s a beauty, Natalie. You’re luckier than you think, love. Thank you for opening my eyes—there’s more to life than we know.”
As Gran Val left, the flowers on the table faded away, but Natalie’s heart was full of hope for the new day and her love for Arkie, the man in her life. Someday soon, she’d introduce her dearest loved ones—Marianne and Arkie.
I’ll Always Be With You, Mum: A Heartfelt True Story That Will Make You Believe Ill never leave you, Mum. A story you can believe in Gran Violet couldnt wait for evening to arrive.
You just dont realise what happiness is Fifty thousand pounds? Nicola stared at her phone, reading the
After I told my wife that her daughter wasnt my responsibility, the truth about our family finally came
My husband inherited a small flat from his aunt, right in the heart of London. It wasnt much, just a
Don’t Go, Mum: A Family Story
British wisdom says you can’t judge a book by its cover, but Margaret was sure she’d always understood people perfectly well!
Her daughter, Emily, had married just a year ago.
Margaret had dreamt Emily would meet a good man, start a family, and she, the proud grandmother, would once again be the matriarch of her growing brood—just as she’d always been.
Mark, the son-in-law, was sharp and successful, something he made no secret of. But the newlyweds moved into Mark’s own flat and didn’t seem to need Margaret’s advice—something she’d never expected!
He was obviously a bad influence on Emily!
This wasn’t at all what Margaret had planned, and soon enough, Mark was getting on her last nerve.
“Mum, you don’t understand, Mark was raised in care. He’s worked for everything, he’s a strong, kind soul,” Emily tried to explain.
But Margaret only pursed her lips and found new reasons to criticise Mark.
To her, he seemed entirely different from who he’d claimed to be to her daughter! And it was her motherly duty to open Emily’s eyes to this empty man, before it was too late!
No education, not sociable, no interests!
Spends his weekends slumped in front of the telly, “tired from work”, apparently!
And Emily wanted to spend her whole life with such a person? Not if Margaret had anything to say about it. Emily would thank her in the end.
And if they had children, what could this man possibly teach her, Margaret’s, future grandchildren!?
Margaret was tremendously disappointed. Mark, feeling Margaret’s disapproval, started avoiding her too.
They spoke less and less, and Margaret refused to visit their home.
Emily’s father, an easy-going type aware of his wife’s temperament, decided to stay neutral.
But then, late one evening, Emily called Margaret with a trembling voice:
“Mum, I didn’t mention before, but I’m away overnight on business. Mark caught a chill on the building site, came home early from work, feeling rotten. I’ve tried phoning, but he’s not answering.”
“Emily, why on earth are you telling me all this?” snapped Margaret. “You two are so independent, you don’t seem to care about your parents at all! Who knows how I’m feeling—seems no one’s bothered! And you ring in the middle of the night to tell me Mark’s sick? Are you serious?”
“Mum,” Emily’s voice wavered—she did sound genuinely worried, “I’m just sad you don’t want to understand that we really love each other. You think Mark’s not worthy, not a real man—he’s not like that at all! How could you think I, your daughter, would fall for a bad person? Don’t you trust me?”
Margaret was silent.
“Mum, please—I know you still have a key to our place. Please, would you just check on him? I’m really worried something’s wrong. Please, Mum!”
“All right, but only for you,” Margaret relented, waking her husband.
No one answered their knock at Emily and Mark’s flat, so Margaret opened the door with her key.
Inside was darkness, maybe he had gone out?
“Maybe he’s not at home?” ventured her husband, but Margaret gave him a stern look as Emily’s worry began to infect her.
In the lounge, she was horrified to find Mark collapsed oddly on the sofa, clearly burning with fever!
The paramedics roused Mark:
“Don’t worry—looks like your son’s caught a nasty bout after working through a cold. Does he work long hours?” the paramedic asked kindly.
“He does, yes,” Margaret replied.
“He’ll be all right, just keep an eye on his temperature and call if anything changes.”
Mark slept on while Margaret sat in a chair, feeling bewildered at the bedside of the son-in-law she’d resented so much.
He lay pale, his hair damp from fever. Suddenly, she was struck by compassion; asleep, he looked so much younger, his face softer than it had ever seemed.
“Mum…” Mark whispered, half in a dream, reaching out for her hand, “Don’t go, Mum.”
Margaret was taken aback, but she didn’t dare pull her hand away.
She sat beside him until dawn.
At first light, Emily rang again:
“Mum, I’m so sorry—I’ll be home soon. No need to come back again, I think everything’s going to be all right.”
“It has to be—you see, everything is fine,” smiled Margaret. “We’re waiting for you—everything’s just fine here.”
*****
When her first grandson was born, Margaret instantly offered a helping hand.
Mark, with gratitude, kissed her hand.
“See, Emily—you said your mum wouldn’t want to help us!”
And Margaret, proudly cradling baby Tom, wandered through the flat cooing to her grandson,
“Well, Tommy, aren’t you a lucky lad—you’ve got the best mum, the best dad, and the best grandparents! You’re one blessed boy!”
So, maybe there is some truth to the old saying—you can’t judge a person straight away.
And, as Margaret learned, only love can help you truly understand. Dont Go, Mum. A Family Story As the saying goes in England: people arent open books, you know them only
19 June 2025 Woke up on Saturday feeling like it was a special occasion. Sixty years a round number worthy
My husbands aunt left him a small flat in her will, situated right in the heart of London. Thinking back
