This Halloween was the first one Kate’s daughter would celebrate without her father. Kate was still struggling to cope with her husband’s disappearance. But seeing her daughter smile brought her joy and helped her forget her sadness. However, her heart raced when she spotted a little girl wearing the same dress Carl used to make.
As Halloween approached, the autumn air was crisp and refreshing. Leaves crunched beneath feet outside, and the neighborhood was slowly changing into a festive and spooky place.
Outside her warm home, Kate worked hard on decorations, wanting everything to be just right for her daughter, Holly.
The lawn was already a mix of decorations — plastic bats, fake cobwebs, and glowing pumpkins.
Kate stood on a stool, carefully hanging up the bats while Holly followed her, bringing her own decorations.
Holly’s excitement made Kate smile, but the little girl had her own ideas about Halloween. Holly didn’t really understand what “spooky” meant.
Instead of creepy decorations, she carried her favorite pink dolls and a soft teddy bear, arranging them neatly on the front porch next to the jack-o’-lanterns.
Kate watched with amusement as Holly lined up her toys. She admired her daughter’s creativity but knew it was time to explain once again what Halloween was all about.
“Sweetheart,” Kate began softly, “Halloween is supposed to be spooky, not cute.”
She smiled gently, realizing she had said this many times, but Holly was only five — she had her own ideas.
Holly looked up at her mother with big, curious eyes.
“But why, Mommy? Why does it have to be spooky?” she asked, clutching her beloved teddy bear.
Kate chuckled softly as she stepped down from the stool.
“Well, that’s just how Halloween works,” she explained patiently.
“It’s a time when people dress up in costumes and pretend to be scary, just for fun. But it’s okay if we make it a little cute too.”
Holly still seemed unsure, her brows furrowed in thought. But after a moment, she nodded and shrugged.
“Okay, Mommy.” Then her face lit up. “Can I wear the costume Daddy made me last year?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Kate’s heart tightened at the mention of Carl, her husband who had vanished six months ago.
It felt like a punch to the stomach, wiping the smile from her face.
For a moment, she froze, her hands shaking slightly as she reached for a bat decoration.
“No, sweetheart,” Kate said softly, her voice catching in her throat.
“I’ll make you a new costume this year.”
“But I liked Daddy’s costume,” Holly protested, her voice filled with disappointment.
“Do you think he’ll come back for Halloween?” she added innocently.
The question hung heavily in the air. Kate’s heart ached, but she forced a smile, kneeling to Holly’s level and brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I don’t think he’ll be back, darling,” Kate said gently but sadly.
The pain of not knowing what had happened to Carl never left her, but she had to be strong for Holly.
Later that evening, the excitement in the air was almost tangible.
Kate knelt before Holly, making sure her daughter’s new costume was perfect.
Holly could hardly stand still, her small feet bouncing with anticipation, her candy bucket gripped tightly in one hand.
“Hold still for just one more second, sweetie,” Kate said with a smile, adjusting the hood of Holly’s cape to make sure it fit just right.
“Do you have everything? Your bucket, your flashlight, your cape — is everything ready?”
“Yes, Mom!” Holly replied, her voice bubbling with excitement. She tugged on her mother’s sleeve impatiently.
“Can I please go now? My friends are waiting!”
Kate couldn’t help but laugh at Holly’s eagerness. The pure joy on her daughter’s face was contagious, and for a moment, all the worry and sadness Kate felt about Carl’s disappearance melted away.
“Alright, go on,” she said, pulling Holly in for a quick hug before letting her go. “Be safe and have fun.”
Holly flashed a wide, bright smile, her eyes shining with excitement, before running off to join her friends.
A small group of kids, all in colorful costumes, was waiting at the end of the street, their laughter echoing in the night.
Kate watched Holly as she disappeared into the crowd, feeling joy at seeing her daughter so happy.
With a contented sigh, Kate turned back toward the house and began preparing a big bowl of candy for the trick-or-treaters who would soon come.
Before long, the doorbell rang, and the familiar chorus of “Trick or treat!” filled the air.
Kate greeted each group of kids with a warm smile, dropping candy into their eager buckets and laughing at their colorful costumes.
But then, a little girl appeared on the doorstep, and Kate’s smile froze.
The girl wore a cute little coat with a bouncy cape, and for a moment, Kate’s breath caught in her throat.
The costume looked so familiar — too familiar. It was just like the ones Carl used to make. The same fabric, the same details, and the same bouncy cape.
Kate’s mind raced back to when Carl would sit at the sewing machine, working on costumes for Holly and explaining how to make the cape float just right.
“That’s a beautiful costume you have, sweetheart,” Kate said, her voice trembling as she tried to keep her emotions in check.
“Where did you get it?”
The little girl smiled up at her.
“My father made it! Do you like it?”
Kate’s heart raced. “Yes,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s beautiful… and the cape is bouncy, isn’t it?”
The girl nodded eagerly.
“My father says it’s better this way.”
Kate was stunned. Could it be? No, it couldn’t. Carl had been missing for so long.
This had to be a coincidence… right? But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, something deep inside wouldn’t let it go.
Unable to stop herself, Kate leaned down and gently asked the little girl,
“Would you mind showing me where your house is? I’d love to ask your father how he made that costume. Maybe he can help me make one for Holly.”
The girl smiled, her innocence shining through.
“Sure! I live just a few streets away,” she said, pointing in the direction of her home.
Kate’s heart raced as soon as she closed the door behind the girl. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to this.
Could it really be Carl? After all these months, was he just a few streets away? Her mind spun with a mix of hope and fear.
Without hesitating, she grabbed her coat and followed the girl’s directions.
What if it really was Carl? What would she say? What would he say? As much as she wanted answers, she feared what she might find. Still, she couldn’t turn back now. She had to know.
As Kate approached the house the little girl had described, she felt her breath catch in her throat.
There, standing in the doorway and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, was Carl. Her Carl.
The man she had loved, the man she had grieved for. He was alive. He was right there in front of her.
Carl spotted her almost immediately, and his face changed. There was no doubt — he recognized her.
His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, they both stood frozen, staring at each other.
Kate’s heart raced as she took a few hesitant steps toward him. The only word she could manage was, “Hi.”
Carl swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper.
“Hi,” he replied, just as quietly.
For a moment, they stood there in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken words and emotions.
Kate felt a flood of questions rise inside her, but none came out.
Her voice trembled when she finally spoke again.
“How have you been?”
Carl sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as if searching for the right words.
“I’m sorry, Kate. I didn’t want to disappear like that. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you the truth.”
Kate’s heart raced.
“The truth?” she repeated, her voice shaking. “What truth?”
Carl looked away, guilt on his face. “I met someone else,” he admitted quietly.
“Her name is Rachel, and… I fell in love with her. That little girl calls me her father now. They’re my family.”
The words hit Kate like a ton of bricks. Her heart shattered. She could barely breathe as the reality of his words sank in.
“And what about me? What about Holly? We’re your family too,” she said, her voice struggling to hold back the hurt.
“I know,” Carl said softly, his eyes full of regret. “But I couldn’t live in two worlds anymore. I had to choose.”
Kate stood in silence, her heart aching with every breath. “And you chose them,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“I’m sorry,” Carl said, his voice thick with regret. He looked down, avoiding her gaze. “Is there anything I can do to make it right?”
Kate swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay composed. “Just be happy,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “That’s all you can do. We’ll try to be happy too.”
Before Carl could respond, a woman appeared in the doorway behind him. “Who is this, Carl? What’s going on?” she asked sharply.
“Rachel, please,” Carl began, turning toward her. But Kate had already made up her mind. She didn’t need to hear more.
Without a word, she turned and walked away, her heart heavy but resolved. The Carl she had known was gone. It was time to let go and move on.
As she approached her house, she saw Holly running toward her, her candy bucket nearly full.
Holly’s smile was bright and full of joy, lighting up the evening. Kate knelt down, wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter.
In that moment, she realized that all she needed was right here, with Holly. It was time to start living again, just the two of them.
Sogros riem da mãe zeladora do noivo até ela subir ao palco para parabenizar os recém-casados — História do dia
Muitas vezes, as pessoas fazem julgamentos desnecessários sem conhecer a história de alguém. Esse foi o caso de Maria, que trabalhou todos os dias para dar ao filho a melhor chance de um futuro brilhante. Um dia, Maria provou que as suposições de todos estavam erradas.
A vida de Maria sempre foi uma batalha árdua. Ela veio de uma família pobre e, apesar de seus melhores esforços, sempre parecia levar a pior. Ela dedicou sua vida a garantir que seu filho, Aiden, tivesse a melhor educação possível.
Ela trabalhava para uma empresa de limpeza como zeladora e frequentemente lutava para sobreviver. Maria trabalhava 12 horas por dia para garantir que pudesse alimentar Aiden e que ele fosse cuidado. Quando ele teve idade suficiente, ela o mandou para um bom internato nos subúrbios.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Getty Images
“Vou trabalhar duro para garantir que você possa ir para a faculdade. A mamãe está cuidando de você, ok”, ela disse a Aiden antes que ele entrasse no ônibus. Maria fez questão de escrever para Aiden sempre que podia.
Anos depois, Aiden se destacou em ciências e disse a ela que teve a oportunidade de ser um job shadow de um médico em um consultório médico. Ele decidiu que era isso que queria ser quando crescesse. Aiden também revelou a Maria que conheceu uma garota chamada Linda enquanto fazia job shadow e os dois começaram a namorar.
“Lembre-se, alguns de nós podem ter surgido do nada, mas isso não significa que não possamos ser alguma coisa.”
Acontece que Linda era filha de outro médico da clínica que Aiden havia visitado. “Escute, filho, não quero que você tenha seu coração partido. Mas Linda vem de uma família rica, e a família dela pode menosprezar você”, Maria escreveu ao filho.
“Não se preocupe, mãe. Ela sabe de onde viemos e não se importa. Ela me ama como eu sou. Confie em mim, você verá”, Aiden escreveu de volta. Aiden e Linda ficaram juntos depois de se formarem no ensino médio e frequentaram a mesma faculdade.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Getty Images
Quando Maria conheceu Linda, ela entendeu por que Aiden a amava tanto. Linda era humilde e não julgava Maria, mesmo quando ela descobriu onde ela trabalhava. Quando Aiden revelou que ele e Linda tinham ficado noivos, Maria deu sua bênção imediatamente.
Maria decidiu dar uma festa de noivado em um restaurante local para comemorar e conhecer os pais de Linda, Hugh e Elizabeth.
“Não acho que isso vá acontecer, Maria. Meus pais são muito presunçosos, então quando souberam da história de Aiden, não deram sua benção”, revelou Linda.
Depois de algum tempo, Hugh e Elizabeth relutantemente deram a bênção a Aiden e concordaram em pagar pelo casamento. A cerimônia foi bem extravagante. Linda usou um vestido de noiva de grife que sua avó lhe dera de presente. O bolo era gigante, e Hugh havia contratado um chef famoso para servir o casamento.
Maria finalmente teve a oportunidade de conhecer Hugh e Elizabeth, mas eles não a trataram gentilmente. Quando perguntaram qual era seu diploma, Maria respondeu: “Não tive a chance de terminar meus estudos porque o pai de Aiden me deixou para criá-lo sozinha.”
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Getty Images
“Bem, se não tivéssemos trabalhado duro, não poderíamos ter dado tudo isso a Linda”, Elizabeth respondeu rudemente. Hugh e Elizabeth tinham convidados VIP, incluindo empresários famosos de toda a cidade. Quando perguntados sobre quem era Maria, eles pareciam envergonhados em revelar que ela era a mãe do noivo.
Depois que os votos e os I-dos foram ditos, foi a vez das famílias do noivo e da noiva fazerem discursos. Hugh e Elizabeth subiram ao palco primeiro para parabenizar os recém-casados pela união. Eles então revelaram seu presente, o que surpreendeu Aiden e Linda porque Hugh já havia pago pelo casamento.
“Nós realmente sentimos muito. Nós maltratamos você desde o momento em que te conhecemos.”
“Sabemos que vocês dois estão procurando uma casa e vão morar juntos em breve. Então, vamos pagar por todos os seus móveis e eletrodomésticos”, revelou Huge.
“Depois que você encontrar uma casa, ela estará totalmente mobiliada”, Elizabeth acrescentou. O presente foi recebido com aplausos pelos participantes. Hugh e Elizabeth olharam com orgulho para a reação. Ao lado do palco estava Maria. Muitos convidados começaram a sussurrar e murmurar, pois todos esperavam um presente que seria bem barato em comparação.
Maria enxugou uma lágrima de alegria enquanto parabenizava os recém-casados. Ela não se importava com o julgamento. Maria estava apenas orgulhosa de seu filho e nora. Mas o que ela disse em seguida chocou toda a festa de casamento.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Getty Images
“Trabalhei a vida toda e economizei para pagar sua faculdade porque sabia que seria caro. Então você decidiu que queria ser médica, e eu pensei, nossa, ainda mais caro “, brincou Maria.
Ela podia dizer que Hugh e Elizabeth estavam rindo dela, não com ela. Maria pegou um envelope na bolsa antes de continuar.
“O engraçado é que você ganhou uma bolsa para estudar medicina de qualquer jeito, então nem precisou de todo o dinheiro que eu economizei. Então, agora que você está prestes a fazer seu doutorado e vai se casar com essa jovem brilhante, que melhor maneira de parabenizá-lo do que comprando uma casa para você”, revelou Maria.
A festa de casamento inteira ficou boquiaberta quando Maria abriu seu envelope e entregou um molho de chaves para Aiden e Linda. Todos se levantaram para aplaudir enquanto Hugh e Elizabeth ficaram atordoados. Após o término da cerimônia, Hugh e Elizabeth pediram desculpas a Maria.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Getty Images
“Nós realmente sentimos muito. Nós maltratamos você desde o momento em que a conhecemos. Pedimos desculpas por julgá-la. Você realmente nos mostrou o quão extraordinária você é”, Elizabeth disse a Maria.
“Lembre-se, alguns de nós podem ter surgido do nada, mas isso não significa que não possamos ser alguma coisa”, respondeu Maria.
No final do ano, Aiden havia terminado seu doutorado e se juntou à clínica de Hugh para trabalhar como médico. Aiden insistiu que Maria se aposentasse do trabalho como zeladora. Hugh e Elizabeth seguiram o exemplo logo depois. Linda deu uma festa de aposentadoria para Maria, e Aiden comprou um carro novinho para ela para agradecer por tudo.
Logo, Aiden e Linda tiveram seus próprios filhos. Maria viveu como avó das crianças, um papel que ela dividiu alegremente com Hugh e Elizabeth.
O que podemos aprender com essa história?
Não leve o julgamento negativo a sério . Tudo o que importava para Maria era a felicidade e o sucesso do filho. Ela não deixou o julgamento derrubá-la e, no final, provou que todos os seus céticos estavam errados.
Você nunca sabe o que alguém passou. Hugh e Elizabeth tinham falsas percepções de quem Maria era com base no fato de que ela era uma zeladora. No final, eles perceberam que Maria era tão trabalhadora e merecedora de respeito quanto qualquer outra pessoa.
Compartilhe esta história com seus amigos e familiares. Pode inspirá-los e alegrar o dia deles.
Se você gostou desta história, talvez goste desta sobre uma mãe rica em uma feira escolar de Natal que zomba de outra mãe que trabalha à noite.
Este artigo é inspirado em histórias da vida cotidiana de nossos leitores e escrito por um escritor profissional. Qualquer semelhança com nomes ou locais reais é mera coincidência. Todas as imagens são apenas para fins ilustrativos. Compartilhe sua história conosco; talvez ela mude a vida de alguém.
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