Wendy hoped her son, John, would care for her in her sunset years. But John left her alone on the street. He did not expect his mother to appear at his doorstep a year later, standing on her feet.
“Can’t talk now, mom! I’m with a customer. I might finally sell a house this year. I’ll call the neighbors to check up on you. But I’m sure it’s nothing. You must’ve sat on the pot too long. Ok. Gotta go. I’ll come in to check on you tonight.”
Wendy remembered the call with her son, John, the first time her legs went numb. She remembered the state of panic she was in when she called him for help. She remembered getting breathless, fearing she was going to die. But her son did not have time to help her despite living a few blocks away.
He didn’t remember to call the neighbors to check in on her or visit her that night. And he even failed to sell the house, or any house, for that entire year.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
It had been a year since Wendy started feeling numbness in her legs. They stopped working all of a sudden as if they were paralyzed. Initially, the weakness in her legs lasted 10-15 minutes. She would wait it out by simply gathering herself and resting in the corner of the house until her legs came back to normal.
Eventually, the frequency of her legs going numb increased, until one day, when she had a fall and couldn’t get up. She cried for help, and luckily, the neighbors showed up. They informed John, who rushed in and took Wendy to the hospital.
Wendy was diagnosed with a rare nerve compression syndrome that caused numbness in her lower limbs. Her situation got complicated for over a year as she and John ignored her symptoms. And the injuries she sustained while falling made things worse.
Wendy was now in a wheelchair.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
John drove Wendy to the hospital and back for the first month of her physiotherapy sessions, but nothing helped Wendy get better. Although Wendy was spending her money for the treatment, John was getting frustrated, driving her to and fro.
“I think you should give up, mom. How many times am I supposed to miss my meetings? You know I need to focus on selling houses, right?” Wendy would wipe her tears while listening to her son’s insensitive comments during their car rides.
‘But he’s my son. At least he’s there for me,’ Wendy would console herself.
Karma will always hit you back.
After the physiotherapy and medication did not improve Wendy’s condition, the doctors suggested she get an expensive surgery. Wendy had spent all her savings on her treatment. She asked John for help, but he refused.
“Do you know how much rent I pay for my house? I can’t afford it, but as a realtor, I need to have a lifestyle. Who would buy a house from someone who lives in a small house?” John explained to Wendy.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
One day, John received a call from Wendy’s neighbors saying she was at the hospital for surgery. John did not know about any surgery, but he drove to the hospital.
He reached Wendy’s room and saw her sitting on her bed, crying while a group of doctors spoke to her. The primary doctor noticed John and came out of the room and said, “Are you Mr. John Matthews, her son?” John nodded.
“Where have you been? We waited for someone next of kin, but since no one arrived, we decided to deliver the news to Wendy directly.”
“What news?”
“Mr. Matthews, your mother’s surgery did not give the expected results. We still haven’t noticed any significant movement in her legs. And we can’t be sure when we will see a change. We’ll have to wait and watch for now. Wendy has already signed the discharge formalities and is free to go.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
John feigned empathy for Wendy and consoled her. As he took her in the wheelchair towards his car, he asked her how she arranged for the money.
“I didn’t want to trouble you for any money, son, so I made the decision myself.”
“What decision, mom?”
“I sold the house.”
John stopped in his tracks, stunned.
“Remember Joanne? My friend from the old book club who moved to another city? She introduced me to her nephew, who wanted to buy a house in our area. Actually, they called and said they were coming here to visit me—”
“Are you kidding, mom? You sold the house? And for what, a failed surgery? You’re so selfish! You didn’t even think of me! It’s my house too, right? I was waiting on that house after—”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
John stopped himself, but Wendy realized what he meant. She was hurt that all John cared about was his inheritance and did not care about her.
Wendy was wiping her tears when John got a call from a prospective customer. He walked away to answer it. After his call, he told Wendy he had an urgent meeting with his customer.
“Go, son. As I said, Joanne was coming to visit me. I’ll ask her to drop me at the nursing home, and I have already spoken to them about moving there.”
“You see, that’s what I’m talking about. I had no idea what you do—”
John was interrupted by another call. He shook his head with disgust at his mother and just took off. Wendy was quietly sobbing on the street near the parking lot, feeling alone and hurt.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
A year had passed, and John hadn’t spoken with his mother. One morning, he heard a car pull up near his driveway. He wasn’t expecting visitors. He went out and saw a senior woman get out of the car. She stood outside the car, searching for something in the glove compartment.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” John asked, confused to see a stranger park outside his house.
When the woman turned around, John had the shock of his life. It was Wendy, and she was able to walk on her feet.
“Mom, oh my God! How are you?”
“Much better, son. I love every moment.” Wendy’s positive response took John aback, and he invited her to the house and offered her a glass of water.
John did not know how to interact with her. Wendy broke the ice and said, “Don’t look so gloomy, son. Look, I’m fine now. Remember when you left me all alone on the street after I was out after a failed surgery?” John turned pale as he recounted his behavior.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
“Well! My friend Joanne and her nephew, Evan, arrived shortly after that. They were heartbroken seeing me all alone near the parking lot, so they took me with them instead of dropping me at the nursing home. Joanne had to leave the next day, but Evan offered me to stay with him in my old house. I mean, his house since he bought it from me.”
“He cared for me like a son and even found better doctors in another city. I was afraid of another surgery, but Evan was there by my side throughout. And miraculously, the surgery worked. Evan also paid for my knee replacement surgery. Not only can I walk, but I can also run like I used to when I was young.”
John was speechless. Although he was embarrassed, he did not like how Wendy praised a stranger. He snarled, “I get it. I was a horrible son. But if this Evan is so great, why are you even here?”
John heard another car pull up outside his house. A young man walked into his house.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
“Oh, Evan. Great timing. We were just talking about you,” Wendy chuckled, greeting Evan.
“Excuse me. You can’t just enter my house like that.” John said, furiously pointing at Evan.
“Well, but I can enter MY house, can’t I?” Evan’s words confused John.
As it turned out, Evan owned the house Jonathan was living in. John was unaware since he only dealt with the agency that mediated all the transactions. Furthermore, John had skipped six months’ rent and evaded calls from the agency.
The agency notified Evan after John skipped rent for a couple of months. But Evan knew that John was struggling based on what he heard from Wendy, so he decided to go easy on John and asked the agency to back off, too.
But when Wendy learned about John’s antics, she realized that she couldn’t give him any more rope. She urged Evan to punish John for not paying the rent.
“Oh, I almost forgot, son!” Wendy reached into her bag. “Here is the eviction notice. You have 15 days.” Wendy handed John the documents and left with Evan.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Getty Images
John sat on his couch and held his head. He realized that his behavior had finally led to him hitting rock bottom.
What can we learn from this story?
- Take care of your parents. Our parents sacrificed a lot to raise us; the least we can do for them in their old age is care for them. Wendy cared a lot for John even if he disrespected and hurt her. John never cared for Wendy when she needed him but still expected her house as an inheritance.
- Karma will always hit you back. John always treated Wendy with disdain and disrespect. His bad karma finally hit back when his mother decided to help evict him from his house.
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My Mom Called Me from Her Honeymoon Begging Me to Save Her from Her New Husband
When my mom called me from her honeymoon, begging me to save her from her new husband, I thought she was in real danger. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what she told me or how I had to step in to fix it.
I’ve always been close to my mom, Diane.
She’s been my rock, my best friend, and the person who taught me everything about love and resilience. But after my dad passed away 10 years ago, things changed.
An upset woman | Source: Midjourney
She became quiet, and withdrawn, like a shadow of the vibrant woman she used to be. She barely called or texted anymore, and every time I tried to check in, she insisted she was fine.
But I could tell she wasn’t.
One day, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I called her and said, “Mom, why don’t you come stay with me for a while? It’ll be fun. We can binge-watch those cooking shows you love and eat way too much ice cream.”
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
At first, she resisted, but after a bit of cajoling, she finally agreed.
A week later, she moved into my guest room, and I made it my mission to bring her back to life.
I started encouraging her to get out of the house, make new friends, and attend neighborhood events.
“You’re still young, Mom,” I told her. “You deserve to have fun and meet people. Dad would want that for you.”
A woman talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, that wasn’t the easiest thing to do.
She’d sigh and roll her eyes whenever I suggested going to a book club or joining a gardening group. But eventually, she started saying yes.
Slowly but surely, I saw the spark return to her eyes. She started laughing more, talking about her new friends, and even picking up some of her old hobbies.
I was so relieved to see this side of her again.
Then, about a year ago, Mom told me about Greg. She invited him over for lunch one day.
A man standing in a room | Source: Midjourney
“He’s just a friend,” she said, but the way her cheeks turned pink told me otherwise.
Greg was a tall, silver-haired man with kind eyes and a soft-spoken demeanor. He seemed sweet, the kind of man who would hold doors open and always say please and thank you.
After he left, I couldn’t help teasing her.
“So, Mom, is Greg really just a friend, or is there more to the story?”
Her blush deepened.
A woman standing in her house | Source: Midjourney
“Well, umm… he’s, uh, he’s my boyfriend,” she admitted.
“OMG, what?” I looked at her with wide eyes. “Mom! You never told me about him!”
“I didn’t know how to…” she said. “I mean—”
“I’m so happy for you, Mom!” I cut her off and pulled her into a hug. “That’s so, so amazing!”
“But, uh,” she began. “Do you think it’s okay? I mean, dating someone else after your dad… is that fine?”
A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney
“Mom, of course, it’s okay,” I put my hands on her shoulders. “You deserve to be happy. Think about Dad. He always wanted to see you happy, right? He’d want you to move forward and do things in life. You can’t put your life on hold forever, can you?”
Her eyes glistened as she nodded. “You’re right. I just… I hope I’m doing the right thing.”
“You are,” I said firmly. “Greg seems like a great guy. And you’re allowed to have a second chance at happiness.”
A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney
From that moment, she fully embraced her relationship with Greg. They dated for a while, and when he proposed, she said yes.
Their wedding was a small but beautiful ceremony, filled with love and laughter. As I watched my mom walk down the aisle, I thought to myself, Maybe this is her happily ever after.
And for a while, it seemed like everything was perfect. But then I received the phone call that sent a shiver down my spine.
A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
So, after their wedding, Mom and Greg left for their honeymoon in the Florida Keys. It was Mom’s dream trip, and she deserved every bit of it.
I was so happy for her.
My phone rang the day after they arrived, and I saw her name on the screen. Naturally, I assumed she was calling to gush about how amazing everything was.
“Mom!” I answered cheerfully. “How’s paradise?”
But her shaky voice on the other end told me something was wrong.
A woman looking at her phone | Source: Midjourney
“Kayla,” she whispered. “Please. Come and save me from him. I beg you.”
“Mom, what’s going on?” I asked as I sat up straight. “Are you okay?”
“It’s Greg,” she said. “He’s not who I thought he was.”
My mind raced with worst-case scenarios.
“What do you mean? Did he do something? Is he dangerous?” I was already grabbing my car keys, ready to drive to Florida if I had to.
A car key | Source: Pexels
She took a deep breath.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said bitterly. “But he brought his kids, and their kids, on our honeymoon. And he expects me to babysit them.”
“Wait… what?”
“Yesterday, he said he had a surprise for me,” she explained. “I thought it was going to be something romantic, like a sunset dinner or a couples’ massage. Instead, his adult children showed up with their toddlers in tow.”
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
I couldn’t believe Greg was capable of doing something so absurd.
“There are four of them, Kayla. Four,” Mom cried. “And now I’m stuck babysitting while Greg spends all his time with his kids.”
“You mean to tell me he brought his entire family on your honeymoon? Without asking you?”
“Yes!” she cried. “And now he’s saying that since I’m ‘the new mom,’ it’s my job to help out. Help out! On my honeymoon! What does he think he’s doing?”
I could hear the frustration and exhaustion in her voice.
A woman using her phone | Source: Midjourney
My mom, the woman who had given up everything to raise me after my dad passed away, was being treated like a nanny on what was supposed to be the happiest trip of her life.
I felt a wave of anger rush through my body.
“That’s insane!” I snapped. “Who does he think he is? Don’t worry, Mom. I’m coming, and we’re putting an end to this nonsense.”
“Kayla, you don’t have to—”
“No, Mom,” I interrupted, my voice steely. “I’m not letting him treat you like this. Pack your bags. I’ll be there by morning.”
A woman sitting near a window | Source: Midjourney
The next morning, I arrived at the resort. I was in such a beautiful place, but unfortunately, I wasn’t there to relax. I was there to fight. To tell Greg he couldn’t mistreat my mother.
To make my point crystal clear, I decided to lean into the absurdity of the situation.
Before heading to the resort, I stopped at a store and grabbed a few props. A bright pink kid’s sun hat, a bib, and a pacifier.
If Greg wanted to turn my mom into a nanny, I’d show him exactly how ridiculous that was.
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
When I walked into the resort’s outdoor lounge, I spotted Greg immediately.
He was lounging by the pool with his adult kids, completely unaware of what was heading his way.
Mom was nowhere to be seen, and I could only assume she was stuck babysitting.
I straightened my pink hat, stuck the pacifier in my mouth, and stormed up to him.
“Daddy!” I called out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Where’s Mommy? I want my juice box!”
The look on Greg’s face was priceless.
A man standing in a resort | Source: Midjourney
His laughter vanished the moment he saw me.
“Kayla,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving my mom,” I said as I yanked the pacifier out of my mouth. “And calling you out on your nonsense while I’m at it.”
Before he could respond, I turned to his grown children, who were now staring at me with wide eyes.
“Hi, everyone!” I said, plastering on a fake smile. “I’m Kayla, Greg’s other kid, apparently. The one he forgot to mention when he invited the rest of you to my mom’s honeymoon and turned her into a babysitter.”
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
One of his daughters stammered, “We… we didn’t mean—”
“Oh, save it,” I interrupted. “Let me guess, he told you my mom would be happy to watch your kids so you could enjoy a nice vacation, right? Did he mention it’s supposed to be her honeymoon? You know, the trip where she was supposed to be relaxing, not changing diapers?”
At that moment, my mom appeared, holding a wailing toddler on her hip and looking like she hadn’t slept in days.
I walked over to her and gently took the toddler from her arms.
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
“Here you go,” I said, handing the child back to one of Greg’s kids. “Pretty sure this one’s yours. Maybe try taking care of your own children instead of dumping them on a woman you barely know.”
“Kayla!” Greg snapped. “That’s enough. You’re making a scene.”
“Oh, am I?” I shot back, crossing my arms. “You dragged your entire family into what was supposed to be a romantic getaway with your new wife. And you’ve been treating her like a nanny instead of a partner. What kind of man does that?”
A serious woman | Source: Midjourney
“It’s a family trip!” Greg argued. “She’s part of the family now. Helping out is what families do.”
“No,” I said firmly. “She’s your wife, not your maid. She didn’t sign up to spend her honeymoon babysitting. And honestly, the fact that you thought this was okay tells me everything I need to know about you.”
That’s when one of Greg’s daughters started apologizing.
“We didn’t mean to cause trouble,” she mumbled. “Dad said she’d be fine with it…”
A woman standing outdoors | Source: Midjourney
“Of course, he did,” I said bitterly. “Because he didn’t bother to ask her.”
The crowd around the pool was utterly silent, watching the scene unfold. Greg looked like he wanted to disappear, but I wasn’t done yet.
“Pack your bags, Mom,” I said. “We’re leaving.”
She hesitated, glancing at Greg. “But… what about—”
“No,” I cut her off. “You don’t owe him anything. He disrespected you, and you deserve better.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded. I grabbed her hand and led her out of the pool area, while Greg mumbled excuses.
A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney
On the drive home, Mom stayed quiet for the longest time. She kept staring out of the window before finally speaking up.
“Thank you, Kayla,” she said softly. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Mom,” I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “You’ve always been there for me. I’m just returning the favor.”
She gave me a small, teary smile. “I thought he loved me.”
“Someone who loves you wouldn’t treat you like that,” I said. “You deserve someone who puts you first.”
A woman driving | Source: Pexels
“You’re right,” she nodded. “I’m done with Greg.”
When we got home, she blocked his number and started looking into annulments.
Meanwhile, karma turned Greg’s life upside down. His kids weren’t too thrilled about being dragged into his honeymoon scheme, and they stopped speaking to him after finding out what he did.
Last I heard, he was spending his days alone, wondering where it all went wrong.
I can’t explain how relieved I feel after saving Mom from being exploited for her kindness. I’m grateful she decided to call me that day instead of quietly looking after that man’s grandkids and keeping up with his insane logic.
A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
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