So, let me tell you about this story I knowits pretty touching. It starts with Emily and Tom. They fell for each other almost instantly, like sparks right from the first meeting. After dating for only a month, Tom was already bursting with excitement and asked her,
“Emily, will you marry me?”
Emily was nearly speechless. “Wait, what? Marry you? But weve only known each other for a month!”
“Doesnt matter,” Tom grinned. “That months been enough. I know youre the one for meI dont need anyone else. Youre my fate.”
Emily just blushed and giggled, then wrapped herself into his arms. “Well, actually, yes. I want that too.”
Her mum was a bit worried, of course. “Darling, this is awfully quick. Are you sure? Youre not pregnant, are you?”
Emily laughed, “Mum, stop it. Im not, honestly, its just that Tom says he cant live without meand, well, I feel the same. Were really in love.”
People who once doubted their whirlwind romance quickly realised how well suited they were. You could see Tom doting on Emily and her caring so much for him. The love between them was real and deep, but there was one thing that cast a shadow over their happiness. Both desperately wanted kids, but it just didnt happen, no matter how much they hoped.
Tom said, “Emily, maybe we should get checked. Maybe theres a reason we aren’t having any luck.”
She agreed, and they tried everythinghospitals, doctor visits, prayersbut nothing worked. Emily simply couldn’t get pregnant.
Eventually, Tom suggested, “How about we visit an adoption centre? We could give a child a proper home, raise them as our own.”
Emily was instantly on boardshed secretly hoped for that, but worried Tom wouldnt want it. “Yes, Ive thought about this too!”
So off they went to this childrens home Tom passed on his business trips. And there, among all those cautious little faces, a three-year-old girl with bright blue eyes and blonde hair ran straight to Emily, hugging her legs.
“Mummy!” she cried with a grin. Emily just melted.
And thats how cheerful little Lucy came into their lives. Suddenly, Emily was overflowing with happiness; she finally felt like a real mum. Tom adored Lucy, too.
Life was good. They lived in a small village where everyone knew everyone else, so folks knew Lucy was adopted. It was fine while she was little, but as she grew up, things got tricky. By the time Lucy was fourteen, she was at school and someone told her she wasnt their real daughter.
Lucy came home in tears, absolutely distraught. “Mum, why didnt you tell me? I know nowI was adopted from the childrens home!”
Emily tried to calm her, “We wanted to tell you when you were older, sweetheart, so it wouldn’t hurt so much. But things got out We always feared this moment.”
Lucy cried and screamed, then became withdrawn, angry even. Teenagers are tricky anyway, and she started acting out: slamming doors, snapping at her parents.
Then, out of nowhere, tragedy struck. Tom died in a car accident, returning home with a colleague from London just before the New Yeara blizzard that night caused the crash. Tom was often away on trips, sending postcards when he couldnt call. When he passed, Emily was forty-six. Instead of supporting her mum, Lucy drifted even further, staying out late, ignoring her.
Emily did her best to connect, never yelling, only pleading with Lucy and crying quietly. Lucy matured quickly, and after finishing school, she told her mum,
“Im moving to the city,” Lucy announced.
Emily looked up, exhausted, holding a tea towel. “For university?”
“No, I want to find my birth mother.”
Emilys heart skipped. “Why, Lucy? Arent I your mum?”
Lucy stared out the window silently. “I need to know who she is. Why did she give me up? Why did she leave me behind? I deserve answers.”
“You do, sweetheart,” Emily said softly, knowing nothing could stop her.
Lucy was nearly nineteen. She packed her few things, gave Emily a quick peck on the cheek, and promised to visit sometimes. Emily watched her go, alone and aching.
Time passed slowly after that. Emily was deep into retirement, spending evenings sorting the old postcards Tom sent, tucked away in a sweet tin tied up with ribbon. There werent many. The last card, with a little sprig of pine, was yellowed and read, “Em, Ill be away three more days. Miss you, love you, your Tom.” Emily ran her fingers over it and hugged the card to her chest, missing him more than ever.
It had been nearly twenty-five years since Tom died. Emily sat by her window, lost in memories. She didnt get out much anymore, save for shopping at the corner store. Her windows stayed shut, postbox empty, house quiet. But joy filled the house when Lucy visited with her kids, which wasnt often. On the dresser was a photographTom cradling little Lucy, both smiling.
“Oh Tom, you left too soon,” Emily would whisper. “Im all alone now.”
The silence in her house was only broken by her cat, Tobyhed hop off the windowsill and purr loudly at her feet. Emily fed Toby, drank her tea, and decided to finally head into town for shopping. She glanced at the photo as she sipped her tea, when someone knocked at the gate.
She remembered that morning, years ago, when Lucy announced she was leaving to find her birth mother. That day was grey and quietEmily was pouring tea in the kitchen when she heard the knock.
She put her shoes on, threw a shawl over her shoulders, and walked into the garden. A much younger woman stood at the gate, sad eyes looking up.
“Hello are you Emily?” the womans voice trembled.
“Yescan I help you?”
The stranger shifted nervously. “Im Lucys mum well, her other mum I mean, her birth mum. My names Claire. I hope that makes sense.”
Emilys chest tightened. Lucy had left not long ago, now her birth mum had found herhow?
“Has something happened to Lucy?” Emily asked, worried. “Has she found you?”
Claire stammered, “Lucys in hospital in the city. Somethings wrong with her stomach. We were walking in the park, she suddenly keeled over, sat on a bench, pale as a ghostI called an ambulance.”
They stood quietly, just staring.
“Lucy found me ages ago, but was scared to tell you,” Claire sniffled.
“Oh, come inside then,” Emily said, snapping out of it. “Lets have some tea.”
She poured hot tea for Claire, who confessed, “I was barely out of school when I had Lucy. My parents were strict and forced me to give her up. My fiancé vanished as soon as he found out, and my parents threatened to throw me out. So I signed the papers at the hospital Ive lived with that ever since. Sorry, this isnt about me nowLucy begged me to get you to visit her in hospital.”
Emily jumped up. “Why didnt she call me?”
“Her phone was stolenher bag got snatched while we waited for the ambulance. All her papers were in there. By the time I got back, the bag was gone.”
“Poor girl,” Emily whispered.
“She gave me your address and said, Find my mum.'”
They sat together, sharing worry and exhaustion, not hostility.
Emily said, “Lets go,” locking up, urging Claire to hurry.
The old bus crawled as they rode into the city. At first, it was silent, but then Claire sighed, “Im alone too. My husband died three years agoterrible illness. We never had another child. Ive always felt it was punishment for giving up Lucy. Its what I deserve.”
“So between us, Lucys all we have,” Emily said quietly.
“Exactly. One daughter between us,” Claire replied sadly.
At the hospital, a nurse asked, “Who are you here for?”
“For our daughter, Lucy Brown,” both Emily and Claire answered at once.
“And you are?”
“Her mother,” they answered together, exchanging nervous smiles.
“Two mums? Well, alright, go on in.”
Lucy lay pale under a drip, but as soon as she saw them she smiled. “Mum and mum”
Emily kissed her first. “Its alright, darling, Im here,” she said, as Claire sat nearby.
“Everythings alright now, Lucy,” Claire said, tucking in her blanket. “Youre not alone anymore.”
The three stayed together in that hospital room, talking for hours.
From then on, Lucy had two mums, and latershe found a husband and had two sons. For Emily and Claire, Lucy was their shared daughter. The whole family meets up together now and then.
Anyway, thanks for sticking with the story. Wishing you happiness and kindness, my friend.
