Emily had been in the hospital so many times that her husband, Alex, had lost count. Of course, he visited her regularly, bringing her treats and necessary medicine. However, his mother, Margaret, never approved of her sick daughter-in-law.
“She had all those kids, and now she can’t even take care of herself! You should have thought about this before marrying her,” Margaret would nag Alex. “What a choice you made for a wife.”
“Mom, stop it,” Alex would respond firmly. “You act like Emily wanted to get sick. Have you forgotten you were young once too? Did you think you’d stay healthy forever?”
“I relied on myself,” Margaret huffed. “I didn’t have time to get sick.”
“Do you think Emily is pretending? She gave birth to three children, Mom. She came from a poor family and probably never had proper nutrition growing up. Her health has always been fragile.”
“That’s what happens when you marry someone from a poor background!” Margaret snapped. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. You’re defending her again.”
“I’m tired of this, Mom. Did I get married just to hear you complain every day?” Alex finally burst out before grabbing his jacket and storming out of the house.
Instead of driving, Alex walked to the nearest grocery store. He bought apples, oranges, and bananas, packed them carefully, and headed to the hospital.
The hospital was already quiet for the night.
“Sir, who are you here for?” a young nurse asked.
“Emily Parker,” Alex said softly.
“Let me check,” she replied and disappeared into the fourth ward. When she returned, she said, “Your wife is asleep. It’s better not to wake her. Would you like me to leave something for her?”
“Yes, these fruits, please,” Alex handed her the bag.
“I’ll make sure she gets them in the morning,” the nurse assured him.
Outside, the cold night air stung his face. Alex hesitated, not wanting to return home to face his mother’s unfair accusations. Emily had no bad habits, no reason to deserve her illness. Sickness doesn’t care if you’re young or old.
When he finally returned, Margaret was calm.
“You’re late. The kids are already asleep,” she said quietly. “Where were you? The car’s still in the garage.”
“At the hospital,” Alex replied shortly.
“How’s Emily?”
“She’s sleeping.”
“You should rest too. Tomorrow’s another busy day. Work, school, daycare…”
“Yeah, I know,” Alex said, taking off his jacket.
The next morning, after dropping the kids off at school and daycare, Alex decided to visit Emily again. But this time, a doctor met him at the hospital entrance.
“Your wife has slipped into a coma. We’re not sure if it’s temporary.”
“What?” Alex stammered, his eyes wide with shock.
“Her condition is severe, and her immune system is very weak. We’ll do everything we can.”
That evening, Alex received devastating news: Emily had passed away.
The grief was unbearable. Alex spent countless hours at Emily’s grave, bringing fresh flowers and whispering apologies into the cold air.
“Forgive me, Emily,” he would say through tears.
Margaret helped with the children for a while, but one evening, she announced her departure.
“I’ve always dreamed of working at that company, and now’s my chance,” she said.
“But who will help me with the kids, Mom?” Alex asked, bewildered.
“They’re old enough to take care of themselves!” she replied dismissively.
With a heavy heart, Alex realized he was on his own. Margaret eventually moved out entirely, leaving Alex and the kids behind.
To manage his work schedule, Alex posted an ad for childcare assistance.
One chilly evening, there was a faint knock at the door. An elderly woman stood outside.
“Who are you?” Alex asked cautiously.
“My name is Beatrice Harris,” the woman said weakly. “I’m so hungry… I haven’t eaten in two days.”
Alex quickly fetched some sandwiches, and the woman devoured them gratefully.
“Do you have anywhere to go?” Alex asked.
“No, dear… They threw me out of my home,” Beatrice sobbed.
“Come in, it’s cold outside,” Alex said, stepping aside.
The elderly woman wept softly as she settled onto the couch.
The next morning, Alex woke up to the smell of pancakes and tea. Beatrice was in the kitchen, flipping golden pancakes while the children stared at her in amazement.
“Good morning, dear,” she said warmly. “Come, sit down. Breakfast is ready.”
The kitchen felt warm and alive, just like when Emily had been there.
After breakfast, Beatrice mended Alex’s torn trousers and entertained the children with stories.
Days turned into weeks, and Beatrice became a beloved part of the household.
One day, Alex’s daughter, Mia, found a crumpled note in Beatrice’s coat pocket.
“It’s a phone number, Dad!” she exclaimed.
Alex dialed the number, and a woman answered.
“Hello? This is Alex. We found this number with our guest, Beatrice.”
“You have our grandmother? Oh, thank goodness! Can I come over?”
An hour later, a young woman named Sarah arrived with her son.
“Grandma!” Sarah exclaimed when she saw Beatrice.
It turned out Beatrice had wandered away from home due to memory loss.
After an emotional reunion, Sarah thanked Alex.
“Would you like to stay for tea?” Alex asked.
Over tea, Sarah shared her story. She was a single mother, raising her son alone.
“I propose we stay in touch,” Alex said with a smile. “We’re both raising kids on our own. What do you think, Sarah?”
Sarah blushed but nodded.
“How about a trip to the waterpark this weekend?” she suggested.
The children cheered with excitement, and Alex felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
Sometimes, the most unexpected visitors bring the greatest blessings.
