Hey love, listen upIve got this story I need to share, and its been on my mind lately.
Olivia grew up in a comfortable family. Her dad was a senior manager at a big firm, and her mum stayed at home, looking after their only child, ironing dads suits and cooking up all the Sunday roasts. They lived in a little town in Kent, and after finishing school Olivia packed her bags for university in bustling Birmingham. There she met Alex, they fell in love and got married. Everything seemed perfect: a cosy home, good jobs, a solid life together.
The one thing that kept gnawing at them was that they never had kids. Theyd seen countless doctors, even travelled abroad for second opinions, and everyone kept telling them there was nothing medically wrong. Each time a pregnancy test came back negative, Olivia would break down, wondering why fate was so stubbornwhy the universe wouldnt give them a little one when they wanted it so badly.
One Saturday, feeling low, Olivia decided to take a walk in the park. The weather was brilliant, birds were singing, the world felt bright, but there was a hollow feeling inside her. She spotted an elderly lady on a bench, scattering sunflower seeds for a flock of pigeons. The birds swarmed around her, cooing loudly. Olivia sat down beside her, and the old woman silently handed her a small packet of seeds. As Olivia tossed them, something nudged her to strike up a conversation.
She confessed that she felt empty because they had no children. The lady listened without interrupting, then asked, Olivia, think backare there any people you might have hurt badly and then just forgotten about them? Olivia hesitated, then said she couldnt think of anyone.
Really? Maybe back in school? the lady prompted.
Olivias school days were a blurshed always been quiet, wellbehaved, never got into fights. Shed lost touch with her classmates and had no idea how their lives turned out. Then, a sudden sting in her chest reminded her of a girl shed once sat beside in classMabel. Mabel had been raised by her grandmother; her parents were unreliable. She was shy, kept to herself, and other kids called her the delicate one. She often became the butt of jokes but never fought back.
Mabel used to call Olivia on the home phone, and theyd chat for ages about books, movies, and homework. It was only over the phone that Mabel was talkative; at school she never approached Olivia, probably too shy. Olivia didnt mind; she thought it safer not to be seen defending the delicate one from ridicule.
One day, Mabel turned up at school in a cardigan and a skirt instead of the uniform. During break the zipper on her skirt broke, and she tried to pin it together with a safety pin. Some lads snuck up, slipped the pin off, and the skirt fell to the floor. Laughter roared. Olivia stood there, watching, feeling sorry for Mabel but too afraid to step inshed be laughed at too.
Mabel ripped her skirt back on, bolted out of the classroom, ran down to the river, and jumped in. It was late autumn; the water was icy, but she kept swimming until she started to lose consciousness. A passerby pulled her out, wrapped her in his coat, and called an ambulance. She was whisked to the hospital, slipped into a coma for a few days, later woke up with a nasty infection from the cold water. Only her grandmother visited her.
Word about Mabels accident barely reached the other classmates. Olivia thought about dropping by, but the thought slipped away. Mabel never returned to school; rumours swirled that shed suffered a mental breakdown. Olivia never heard from her again. This was the only time Olivia felt any shame about her own behaviour, even though she hadnt actually hurt Mabel.
When Olivia tried to tell the old lady about Mabel, the lady had vanished and the pigeons were gone. Walking home, an idea sparkedmaybe she should visit the town where she grew up. Her parents had long moved elsewhere, and there were no relatives left in that little Kent village.
The next day she asked for the day off, told Alex that her parents wanted her to go back, and drove up. She checked into a cosy B&B and headed straight to the house where Mabel had lived. Nothing had changed; it felt like stepping back into her childhood. She knocked and waited. The door opened, and a frail womana grandmotherstood there.
Olivia? What brings you here? she asked.
Hello, I was hoping to see Mabel. Is she home? Olivia replied.
Shes here, dear. What do you need?
Just Id like to talk to her, please.
Come in, youre welcome.
Olivia entered the sitting room. Mabel sat with her back to the window, painting. When she turned, Olivia saw a woman whod grown into a strikingly beautiful adultso different from the shy girl she remembered.
Mabel, its Olivia White. Do you remember me? Olivia asked.
Of course, love. Whats on your mind? Mabel replied.
Olivia poured out everythingthe emptiness, the failed pregnancy tests, the strange encounter with the lady in the park. Mabel listened, then spoke, her voice steady.
Olivia, I waited for you back then, after the river, every day at the hospital, hoping youd visit. I never held a grudge that you never stood up for me at school; I knew youd be laughed at too. But in the hospital I was so low, feeling utterly alone. When the doctors told me Id never have children, I thoughtmaybe you should feel that pain too. I wished, in a dark moment, that youd never have kids. I thought youd abandoned me.
Olivias knees gave way; she fell to the floor, tears spilling.
Mabel, Im so sorry. I was ashamed, scared, selfish. I should have run to you, visited you, done anything. Im paying for that now.
Mabels eyes softened. She lifted Olivia gently.
Olivia, I forgive you. I never meant any harm. Im glad youre here now, and Id love to help however I can.
They brewed a pot of tea, chatted a while, and Olivia left, promising to call often. A warm light settled in her heart.
Three months later, Olivia bought another pregnancy test. She stared in disbelief as two lines appearedshe was pregnant! She rang Mabel straight away, who burst into delighted laughter, relieved that she wasnt the cause of Olivias childlessness. Olivia then called Alex and her parents; everyone was over the moon. The pregnancy went smoothly, and she gave birth to a little girl named Alice. Mabel happily agreed to be the godmother.
So, love, the moral here is simple: we often fling hurtful words and wishes when were angry, thinking theyll just disappear. But they have a way of circling back, like a boomerang, and messing up our own lives. Lets try to keep kindness in our hearts, live in peace, and not wish ill on anyone. Talk soon.
