The young bride changed the bedsheets daily until one day her mother-in-law entered her room and made a shocking discovery revealing a secret that could break any mothers heart.
My son, Lucas, had only been married to Elena for a few days. Their wedding in Batangas was simple but filled with laughter, tears, and heartfelt vows.
Elena seemed the perfect daughter-in-law: gentle, respectful, always smiling, and attentive to every family member.
Even our neighbors and relatives were enchanted by her.
“Were so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law,” I proudly told my friends at the market.
Yet, days after the wedding, I began noticing something odd
**The Mystery of the Sheets**
Every morning, Elena hung the sheets and blankets outside to dry in the sun. Sometimes, she even changed them twice a day.
One day, I asked her:
“Why do you change the sheets so often, dear?”
She gave a tender smile:
“Im sensitive to dust, Mom. I sleep better when everythings fresh and clean.”
But something felt off. The sheets were all new, carefully selected for the wedding, and lightly scented. No one in our family had allergies.
Slowly, doubt crept inthere had to be more
**A Shocking Discovery**
One morning, as I prepared for the market, I passed her room and caught a strange odor.
When I opened the door, my heart raced. I walked to the bed and slowly lifted the sheet
My legs nearly gave way.
The sheet was covered in thick, dark, alarming stains.
In panic, I opened the drawershidden rolls of bandages, a bottle of antiseptic, and neatly folded clothes tucked away.
**The Truth About Elena**
I rushed downstairs and grabbed her wrist:
“Explain! Whats happening? Why are you hiding this?”
At first, she stayed silent, trembling, tears filling her eyes. Then she collapsed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Mom Lucas has late-stage leukemia. Doctors say he has only months left. We rushed the wedding because I couldnt leave him alone. I wanted to be with him even if time was short.”
My world shattered.
My sonthe boy I raised and lovedhad kept this secret to protect me.
Elena chose to suffer in silence so I wouldnt break.
**A Mothers Devotion**
That night, I didnt sleep. Lying awake, I thought of Lucass pain and Elenas quiet devotion.
The next day, I bought fresh sheets and helped her wash the old ones. Every morning, I rose early to stay with them, to support them.
One dawn, as we changed the sheets together, I hugged her:
“Thank you, Elena for loving my son. For staying. For choosing him, even knowing youd lose him.”
Three months later, Lucas passed peacefully in his sleep. Elena held his hand, whispering “I love you” until his last breath.
No pain, no struggle. Just peaceand a faint smile on his face.
From that day, Elena never left.
She didnt return to her parents.
She never remarried.
She stayed with me, quietly helping run our small grocery.
She became like my own daughter.
Today, two years later, when people ask:
“Why does Elena still live with you?”
I smile and answer:
“Because she wasnt just my sons wife she also became my daughter. And this home will always be hers.”
