Happiness in Pieces
Andrew got a call from his mum—she asked him to put up a shelf in the kitchen. The next day, he popped round to hers, but she wasn’t home. The flat was unlocked with his key. The shelf was there, just like she’d promised, but the drill… Where was it? Probably in the loft, crammed with old junk.
He climbed onto a chair, opened the hatch—and there it was, the drill! He tugged at the cord, it got tangled, the drill slipped and knocked over a vase. It shattered into a million pieces. Andrew cursed under his breath, knowing how much his mum loved that vase. He picked up the shards, hung the shelf, and left. Over the phone, he promised to buy her a new one for Mother’s Day. But she wouldn’t let him off easy—she went on and on about it.
Time passed, but he couldn’t find a vase like it anywhere. Then, on the last Saturday before the holiday, he spotted it… in the hands of a girl. The shop assistant said it was the last one in stock. Andrew apologised and honestly explained how he’d broken the vase and that his mum would never forgive him if he didn’t replace it.
The girl, named Sophie, paused, then smiled and handed him the vase. “Take it—save yourself from your mum’s nagging.” She picked a different one, and Andrew got the one he needed.
On the way out, they got chatting. He cracked a joke, she laughed, and before long, he invited her over—for Mother’s Day, to meet his mum. Sophie was surprised but said yes.
The next day, they turned up at his mum’s together. She was thrilled with the gift and even more with Sophie. “See, love? Everything happens for a reason—no broken vase, no meeting this lovely girl,” she laughed.
From that day on, Andrew’s life changed. He and Sophie spent more and more time together, walking in parks, talking about films and books, making plans. He introduced her to his daughter, who was home for the holidays, and luckily, they hit it off straight away. Sophie was touched by his kindness and how much he cared. And Andrew’s mum often brought up that day, saying the broken vase was fate’s doing. Sophie herself marvelled at how one chance meeting could lead to something so special.
Six months later, they got married. It was a small but cosy affair. Andrew’s mum gave a toast, thanking fate once again for that shattered vase. And Andrew, looking at his wife, knew he’d found the one he’d been waiting for his whole life. Every time he walked past that shelf, he’d smile, remembering how one broken vase led him to a happiness he’d never dared to hope for.
