**Diary Entry A Morning That Changed Everything**
I rose before dawn today, earlier than usual. Weekends always leave the park in a state, so I wanted to get ahead of the mess. Been a cleaner here for years now. Funny how life turns outonce, things were so different.
As I swept, my mind wandered to my son, the one Id had at 35 after love had failed me time and again. Never met a man worth keeping, but my boymy Simonwas everything. Clever, handsome, full of dreams. Only thing that worried me was how he hated our neighbourhood.
*”Mum, when I grow up, Ill be someone important,”* hed say.
*”Course you will, love,”* Id reply, ruffling his hair.
At 16, he left for college digs. Said hed visit often, and he didat first. Then he met a girl, and home became an afterthought. When he finally returned for good, it was with a death sentence. Doctors said treatment abroad might help, but the cost was staggering. I sold the flat without hesitation. Then one night, the call came.
*”Your sons gone.”*
Life lost its colour after that.
This morning, as I worked, old Mr. Thompson from number 12 walked by with his retriever, Duke.
*”Bright and early, Martha!”* he called.
*”Youre up with the larks yourself,”* I smiled.
*”Ah, too quiet indoors. Fancied a stroll.”*
Hes a widower, always been kind. I never knew what to make of his attention.
After he left, I spotted a phone on the bench. No one around. I turned it onphotos flashed up. Someones memories, left behind. Then my breath caught.
*”Simon?”*
There he was, grinning in picture after picture. My hands shook. Then the phone rang.
*”Hello? Thats my mobilecan I collect it?”* a young woman asked.
I gave her the address. When she arrived, a lad stood behind her. My heart stopped.
*”Whered you get these photos of my son?”* I managed.
*”Simons?”* She blinked.
The boy stepped forward. I swayed, the room spinningnext thing I knew, paramedics were leaning over me. Later, when the fog cleared, the truth came out.
*”Im Emily,”* the girl said. *”We dated. He left when I told him I was pregnant.”*
*”No, love,”* I whispered. *”He was ill. Didnt want you to bear it.”*
Her face crumpled. *”All these years, I thought hed run”*
Then she called the boy over. *”Ethan, this is your grandmother.”*
My grandson. My Simons boy.
A knock interrupted usMr. Thompson at the door, flowers in hand. *”Fancy a walk, Martha?”*
Emily grinned. *”Can we come?”*
*”If you behave,”* he chuckled.
Two months on, Im Mrs. Thompson now. Duke adores Ethan, and Ive a kitchen full of laughter again. Funny how life sends blessings when you least expect them.
**Lesson learned:** Grief isnt the endsometimes, its just the turn before the road rises.
