Twenty Years Later, I See My Younger Self in the Boy On the Eve of His Wedding, Arthur Suspected Martha of Betrayal. Even Though She Swore She Was Faithful, He Refused to Listen. But Twenty Years On, He Met Her Son—His Exact Double … Their Love Was the Stuff of Novels: Passionate, Unique, and Intense. Many Envied Their Romance and Tried to Cause Trouble. The Young Couple Were Preparing for a Wedding That, Tragically, Never Happened. The Night Before Their Wedding, Martha Told Her Beloved She Was Expecting His Child. But Instead of Joy, She Was Met with Anger and Frustration. Arthur Accused Her of Infidelity. He Repeated Over and Over She Couldn’t Possibly Be Pregnant So Soon. He Told Her to Her Face He Didn’t Believe Her. Yet She Gave Birth to That Child. Many of His Friends Told Him He Was a Fool. Everyone Saw How Much Martha Loved Him. But Arthur Remained Stubborn. The Relationship Fell Apart and the Wedding Was Cancelled. He Suggested an Abortion, but Martha Refused. She Waited Until the Last Moment for Her Beloved’s Apology, but He Never Called. She Had No Intention of Calling. Arthur Was Convinced He Was Right. They Began New, Separate Lives. Martha Had to Face the Consequences Alone. Even When Their Paths Crossed, the Young Man Pretended He Didn’t Know Her. He Saw Her at the Playground, but Always Looked Away, Not Wanting to Remember the Past. Martha’s Life Was Hard. She Became a Single Mother, but That Didn’t Stop Her from Being Happy. She Had to Put Her Personal Life Aside, But She Had a Little Angel for Whom She Was Willing to Do Anything. She Did Everything to Make Sure Her Son Didn’t Want for Anything. She Worked Multiple Jobs to Secure His Future. Chris Thanked His Mum—He Was Her Support and Main Defender. He Earned Higher Education, Served in the Army, and Got a Job. As He Grew Older, He Stopped Asking Who His Father Was Because He Knew the Truth. Of Course, in His Childhood Martha Told Him Stories About His Dad, but Did He Really Believe Them? The Answer Is Obvious. Chris Was the Spitting Image of His Father. At Twenty, He Reminded His Mother of the Arthur She Once Loved So Deeply. And Then, One Day, Their Paths Intertwined: Martha’s, Arthur’s, and Chris’s. His Biological Father Had an Epiphany—It Was Impossible Not to See the Resemblance. He Watched Them for a Long Time, but Couldn’t Say a Word. It Wasn’t Until Three Days Later That He Came to Martha and Asked, — Can You Forgive Me? — Long Ago…” Martha Whispered. And Then Stories of ‘Daddy’ Came to Life—Chris Saw His Father for the Very First Time.

Twenty years later, I see my younger self reflected in this boy.

On the eve of our wedding, Edward suspected that Emily had been unfaithful. Despite her earnest promises of fidelity, he refused to believe her. Yet, two decades later, he encountered her son. The boy bore his exact likeness…

There was a love between them that would not have been out of place in a novelpassionate, unique, overwhelming. People often envied their relationship and delighted in creating mischief. The young couple prepared for their marriage, but the wedding was not to be.

The day before the wedding, Emily revealed to Edward that she was expecting a child. Instead of joy, she was met with anger and disbelief. Edward became convinced she had cheated on him; he could not accept that she had fallen pregnant so quickly. Right to her face, he told her she was lying. And when their son was born, Edward wasnt there.

Plenty of his mates told him he was being a fool. Everyone could see how deeply Emily cared for him. But Edward was absolutely stubborn. Their relationship fell apart and the wedding was cancelled. He even suggested she end the pregnancy, but Emily refused. Until the very last moment, she hoped Edward would ring and apologisebut he never did.

She wouldn’t phone either. Edward was certain he was in the right. They both started new, separate lives. Emily had to bear the consequences on her own. Even when their paths occasionally crossed, Edward pretended not to know her. He would spot her in the park with their child and look away, determined not to linger in the past.

Life was hard for Emily. She became a single mother, but it never stopped her from cherishing happiness. It was true, she had to put her personal life aside, but she had her little angel, and for his sake, there was nothing she wouldnt do.

She worked several jobs to make sure her son, Christopher, was always provided for. Chris repaid his motherhe was her rock and her fiercest defender.

Chris went on to earn a university degree, served a spell in the Army, and landed steady work. As he grew older, he stopped asking about his father; he understood the truth. Emily had told him stories about his dad when he was a child, but had he ever really believed in them? One could only guess.

Chris was Edwards mirror image. At the age of twenty, he reminded Emily exactly of the Edward she had once loved so desperately. And one day, fate brought Emily, Edward, and Christopher together. Naturally, Edward was struckone glance was enough to see the similarity. He watched them for ages, lost for words.

Only three days later did he appear at Emilys door and ask in a quiet voice, Can you ever forgive me?
Long ago she whispered.

And that was when tales of a father came to life againChris, for the very first time, saw his own dad.