I Took an Abandoned Girl from Church on Easter Only to Uncover My MIL’s Deepest Secret — Story of the Day

She was five. Alone. Holding an Easter basket on the church steps. I brought her home against my MIL’s protests. By evening, I realized this child wasn’t a stranger to our family at all.

I don’t like celebrating Easter with my husband’s family.

It’s not the holiday itself — it’s beautiful, bright, full of the smell of yeasty dough and fresh flowers. But celebrating it under my MIL’s sharp gaze feels like sitting on needles in a lace dress.

To her, I’ve always been a little “not right.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

So when my husband, Dave, suggested going to her place, I made every effort not to grimace. He was drying his hands with a towel, clearly hoping I’d say “yes” without hesitation this time.

“Come on, love. It’ll be nice.”

I sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea that had long gone cold.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“You know exactly how it’ll go,” I murmured without looking up.

“She’s trying,” Dave said softly. “She even decorated the terrace with flowers. Says she’s making it just like when I was a kid.”

“Yeah. With the same ‘jokes’ from back then — like how you’re still childless because your wife clearly can’t bake anything more meaningful than a cake.”

Dave let out a slow breath. Silent. Not denying it.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“She doesn’t know,” he said after a pause.

“And she doesn’t need to. It’s our business. Not hers.”

Dave nodded. But I saw it in his eyes — the weariness. The way he’d grown tired of being the rope in a silent tug-of-war between two women who loved him in different ways.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

I turned to the window. Crocuses had started blooming. Easter was around the corner.

“Fine,” I stood up. “Let’s go. Better her decorated terrace than our walls reminding us of what we don’t have.”

“You sure?”

“No,” I smiled. “But I have a nice dress. It deserves some air.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Dave laughed and raised his hands in surrender.

“So are we blessing the Easter basket or just keeping the peace for one day?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself until I’m actually holding the basket,” I grumbled, pulling on my coat.

An hour later, we were driving down a road sprinkled with fallen blossoms. I had no idea this Easter would be more challenging than I expected.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

***

The morning went surprisingly well. Cynthia greeted us without a single eye roll or poisonous comment.

The Easter service was beautiful.

Light streamed through the stained-glass windows, and I found myself almost relaxed, sitting beside Dave with Cynthia on the other side, clutching her blessed basket like a relic.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

No side-eyes. No sighs. No carefully sharpened remarks. For the first time ever, it felt like a normal holiday. A quiet, uneventful, even… pleasant Easter. At least, that’s what I thought.

When the service ended, we stepped out into the sunlight. I stood near Dave’s mother as she scanned the crowd.

“Where’s David? Still in there?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“He’s helping someone with the candles.”

Cynthia muttered something under her breath and headed toward the car. I was about to follow when…

I saw her.

A little girl, no older than five, was sitting alone on the edge of the stone steps. Her Easter basket rested beside her — jelly beans inside, and a chocolate bunny with one ear already bitten off.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

She was Black. Dressed in a white cardigan and yellow dress, her shoes perfectly polished. But her face looked… abandoned.

I walked over slowly and crouched down.

“Hey there. Are you waiting for someone?”

She looked up. Big brown eyes. Calm, but uncertain.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“My daddy. Mama said he’d be here to get me.”

“You came here alone?”

She shook her head.

“Mom brought me. She said Daddy would come.”

Before I could ask more, I heard a sharp voice behind me.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“There you are!” Cynthia’s heels clicked against the pavement. “What on earth are you doing? We’re all waiting in the car!”

“This little girl… She’s waiting for her father. Says he’s supposed to meet her here.”

Cynthia gave her a long look, unimpressed. “Oh, come on. You don’t really believe that.”

“She seems sure. Maybe we could check with someone? Or let the priest know?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Cynthia rolled her eyes.

“She seems like she walked away from some social worker. You don’t just leave a five-year-old at church with a basket and expect a miracle.”

Then, she narrowed her eyes at me, already sensing where that was going.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“And don’t even think about getting involved. You’re not bringing some stranger’s child into someone’s clean home on Easter Sunday.”

“She’s not a kitten. She’s a child. Alone. I’m not leaving her here.”

“She’ll be fine!” Cynthia snapped. “Someone will come for her. It’s a church, not a bus stop.”

I looked down. The girl had gone quiet.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I’ll take her with us,” I said.

“You will not.” Cynthia’s voice went cold. “This is my house. I decide who walks through my door.”

“Then Dave and I will get a hotel.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I knelt again beside the girl.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Ava,” she whispered.

“Well, Ava, how about you come with us for a little while? Just until we find your Mom or Dad, okay?”

She nodded.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Dave appeared just as I was scribbling our address on the back of a church flyer and handing it to the priest. Cynthia stormed toward him.

“Your wife is bringing home strays now!”

Dave looked at me, then at Ava, then at his mother.

“It’s fine,” he said calmly. “She can come with us.”

“She what? David!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“She’s a little girl, Mom. It’s Easter.”

Cynthia stared at both of us like we’d lost our minds. But I held Ava’s hand as we walked to the car. And Dave didn’t let go of mine.

I had no idea who that child truly was.

But something deep inside me already knew — that wasn’t random.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

Ava followed me through the hallway in tiny socks, carefully stepping on the wooden floor like it might crack beneath her.

The house smelled like Easter bread and tension.

Cynthia hadn’t said a word since we came in. She’d pursed her lips so tight I thought they might disappear entirely.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Dave, bless him, tried to smooth things over — making tea, chatting about traffic, pretending we hadn’t just brought a mysterious child into his childhood home.

But Ava was… different.

She didn’t whine. Didn’t ask for cartoons. She just sat at the table drawing, focused, quiet. Her tiny fingers gripped a purple crayon like it was the only anchor she had.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I leaned over.

“That’s beautiful. Who is it?”

She held up the drawing — a man, a woman, and a little girl between them. They were holding hands.

The man had brown hair and green eyes. Just like Dave.

I swallowed hard.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“You like drawing your mom and dad?”

She nodded.

“Sometimes I dream about them. Together.”

I stood and quietly went to the guest room where we’d placed her backpack. I needed to find her toothbrush. Or clean socks. Or anything — just something to do with my hands.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

I unzipped the side pocket. A photo slipped out. It fluttered to the floor.

I bent down. And froze. It was a printed photo. A young couple, smiling.

The woman — beautiful, dark-skinned, with soft curls around her cheeks. The man — tall, white, with familiar green eyes.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Familiar face.

Familiar jawline.

Familiar dimple.

My husband!

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“Ava?” I called gently, stepping into the hallway.

She peeked out from the kitchen, chewing on a cookie. I showed her the photo.

“Sweetheart… Who’s this?”

She smiled brightly.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“That’s my mommy and daddy!”

I tried to return the smile. But my cheeks refused to move.

“Do you know your daddy’s name?”

She paused. “I think… David. I’ve never met him.”

My heart dropped.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

I nodded slowly and turned down the hallway, my fingers trembling around the photo.

Then, the soft creak of a floorboard behind me. A sigh.

Cynthia.

She was already standing there, arms folded, eyes narrowed like she’d been waiting for her cue. I stepped into the living room where Dave sat on the couch, holding out the photo.

“Dave. What is this?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

My husband looked up. His face went pale. Before he could speak, Cynthia’s voice cut through the air like ice.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” she snapped, striding into the room. “I heard everything. First, you bring home a random child, now you’re accusing my son of being her father? What kind of circus is this?”

Dave stood up.

“Mom. Stop.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Cynthia’s eyes burned into mine.

“You’re seriously turning Easter into some twisted drama? What’s next — a baby goat in the guest room?”

Dave didn’t look at her. He took my hand.

“She might be my daughter.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

***

The house held its breath.

Dave sat on the armrest of the couch, staring at the photo in his hand like it was ticking. Cynthia paced near the fireplace, arms crossed so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Ava was upstairs, drawing. Quiet as a ghost. And just as heavy on our hearts. Then the doorbell rang. We all froze. Cynthia frowned.

“Who could that possibly be?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

Dave looked at me. I didn’t say anything — just headed toward the door, my palms damp.

When I opened it, I saw her.

A tall woman stood on the porch. Black. Graceful. The wind tugged at her scarf, revealing soft curls and sharp cheekbones. Her eyes were tired.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

It took me only a second to place her. She was the woman from the photo. The one smiling beside Dave in the snapshot, hidden in Ava’s backpack.

The one who hadn’t said a word. Until now.

“Hi,” she said softly. “You must be the one who brought Ava.”

I nodded.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I’m Daisy,” she added. “Her mother.”

I stepped aside without speaking. She entered slowly, like someone stepping into a house that once belonged to her in a dream.

Dave stood up the moment he saw her.

“Daisy…?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I got your number from the priest. But I didn’t call. I already knew where to go.”

“You knew we’d be here?”

“I didn’t… not until I saw you this morning. At the church.”

Dave froze.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I was walking past with Ava,” she continued. “We were just going to sit outside and listen to the choir. But then Ava saw you. She didn’t know it was you. I did.”

Daisy’s voice trembled, just slightly.

“Ava always asks about you. I didn’t plan anything. But I thought…”

She paused. Looked around the room.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels

“I told her to wait for her Dad.”

“You left her?” Cynthia’s voice cut like broken glass.

“I stayed,” Daisy said, turning sharply. “I watched everything. You were one of the last families to leave. I wanted to see what you’d do. Whether you’d ignore her. Whether you’d walk away.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Dave looked like he was about to fall.

“You should have told me.”

“I tried. Twice. The first time, I got your voicemail. The second… your mother answered the door. After that, your number stopped working.”

All heads turned to Cynthia. She didn’t flinch. But her mouth was tight.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“I was protecting you,” she said.

“No,” Daisy replied. “You were protecting yourself. Your image. Your control.”

“I was protecting my son’s future!”

“You stole his present. And his daughter’s.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Dave’s face crumbled. He turned to me, searching, as if for balance.

I stepped forward and said quietly, “She’s not trying to break anything, Cynthia. She’s trying to give something back.”

Then we heard the footsteps. Ava appeared at the top of the stairs, holding a piece of paper.

“Mommy?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Daisy’s entire face changed. She crouched without thinking.

“Hey, baby.”

Ava ran to her, curling into her arms like she’d been waiting for this hug her whole life. Dave’s voice broke the silence.

“I didn’t know. God, I didn’t know.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“You do now,” Daisy answered gently. “And she’s right here.”

Dave looked at me. I reached for his hand.

“She’s your daughter. I’m not going anywhere. But neither is she.”

Cynthia stood still. I turned to her.

“I may never be able to give you a grandchild. But you already have one. Maybe not the one you imagined. But real. Brilliant. Here.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Cynthia didn’t answer. But something shifted in her eyes. She looked at Ava, and her shoulders dropped.

“You can stay,” she said hoarsely. “All of you. It’s Easter. And I guess… even the messiest families deserve to be together.”

Ava stepped toward me and unfolded her drawing.

“I made us all. Even Granny Cynthia. Just in case.”

Cynthia blinked. For a second, I thought she might cry. She cleared her throat.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

“That’s… very sweet, dear.”

Ava smiled shyly and returned to Daisy’s side. And I… I just watched them. A man. A woman. A child. A mess. A miracle. A maybe.

Maybe our family didn’t begin the way we hoped. Maybe it was twisted, tangled, and painful.

But it was real. It was ours. And somehow, in the most unexpected way, I’d found someone I didn’t even know I was meant to love.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

Businessman Loses All Hope After His Diagnosis, but One Hospital Encounter Changes Everything — Story of the Day

When a workaholic businessman receives devastating news about his health, he meets a young boy in the hospital who changes his outlook on life. Their bond grows through unexpected friendship and small acts of kindness, teaching him what truly matters—until a heartbreaking twist reshapes everything.

Andrew, 50, sat at his desk, shuffling through papers while juggling scheduling meetings with his partners.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He didn’t hear Michael, his assistant, enter the room. Michael stood there, waiting. After a few moments, he cleared his throat.

No response. Andrew kept working, his focus sharp. Michael tried again. “Mr. Smith.” Still no answer. He repeated his name three more times.

Finally, Andrew slammed his hands on the desk and snapped, “What?”

Michael didn’t flinch. “You asked me to tell you if your ex-wife called.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew groaned and rubbed his temples. “How many times do I have to tell you? Ignore her calls. What now?”

Michael held a notepad. “She left a message. I should warn you—it’s a direct quote. Her words, not mine.” He read from the note. “‘You pompous jerk, I will never forgive you for wasting so many years of my life. If you don’t give me back my painting, I’ll smash your car.’ That’s the message.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew’s face turned red. “We’ve been divorced for two years! Does she not have anything better to do?”

Michael looked at him, waiting for further instructions. “Should I respond to her?”

“No! And stop taking her calls,” Andrew said. Then he paused. “Actually, tell her I threw that painting in the trash!”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew grabbed a pen and hurled it toward the wall. Michael ducked slightly, gave a polite nod, and left the room.

Moments later, Andrew’s phone rang. He frowned, picking it up.

“Andrew Smith?” a voice asked.

“Yes. Who’s calling?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“This is the hospital. Your test results are ready. The doctor wants to see you.”

“Can’t you just tell me now?” Andrew said, irritated. “I’m busy.”

“Sorry, sir. The doctor will explain in person.”

Andrew sighed heavily. “Fine. I’ll come in.” He hung up, shaking his head.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew rarely allowed himself the luxury of a lunch break, but this time was different. The doctor’s office was quiet, the ticking clock on the wall the only sound.

Andrew sat stiffly in a chair, his fingers tapping against the armrest. When the door opened, the doctor stepped in, his face serious. Andrew frowned, sensing bad news.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The doctor sat across from him and spoke in a steady, measured tone, using terms Andrew didn’t understand.

Then came the word—cancer. “We need to act fast,” the doctor said.

“Is this some kind of joke?” Andrew asked, his voice sharp. “I own a company. I can’t just check into a hospital.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The doctor met his eyes. “Your health should come first. The company can wait.”

Andrew leaned forward. “What are my chances of getting better?”

“I can’t promise anything,” the doctor said. “Starting treatment right away is critical.”

Andrew’s voice rose. “Can I still work while I’m here?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Treatment affects everyone differently,” the doctor explained. “You will stay in the hospital so we can monitor you. Someone can bring you a computer.”

Andrew frowned and stood up. “Fine. I’ll sort it out.”

The doctor watched him leave. “We’ll see you tomorrow with your things,” he said before Andrew reached the door.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

As Andrew walked through the hospital’s pediatric wing, he noticed a boy, about eight years old, tossing a ball back and forth with a nurse.

The sound of their laughter echoed in the corridor. The ball suddenly rolled across the floor and stopped near Andrew’s feet.

“Excuse me, sir!” the boy called out, smiling. “Can you please throw the ball back?”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew picked up the ball, his face tense. Without a word, he hurled it down the hall, far from the boy and nurse, then turned and walked away.

“That was mean, sir!” the boy shouted.

Andrew had been in the hospital for days that felt like weeks. He tried to keep working, setting up his laptop and pushing through meetings.

But the treatment was draining. Each session left him weaker. The nausea was constant, and sleep was nearly impossible.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

One afternoon, during another long chemotherapy session, Andrew leaned back, his eyes half-closed. He felt miserable.

Suddenly, a small voice broke through his fog. He opened his eyes to see a boy standing in front of him. Startled, Andrew flinched. The boy giggled. It was the same boy from the corridor.

“What do you want, kid?” Andrew mumbled, not even lifting his head.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’ve been walking around the hospital looking for someone to play with. It’s boring here.”

Andrew glanced at him, annoyed. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“Tommy,” the boy replied with a wide grin.

Andrew sighed. “Listen, Tommy. I’m not in the mood to play. Go bother someone else before I start feeling worse.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tommy didn’t move. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small peppermint candy. He held it out to Andrew. “This helps with nausea. You should try it.”

Andrew hesitated, then snatched the candy and set it on the table.

“You’re really grumpy!” Tommy said, laughing. “I’m going to call you Mr. Grouch. Are you mad because you’re scared of needles?” He pointed at the IV attached to Andrew’s arm.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew frowned. “I’m not scared of anything.”

Tommy nodded. “That’s fine. I was scared at first too, but then I stopped. My mom says I’m a superhero. Do you have a superpower?”

“No,” Andrew said, his voice flat.

“That’s because you’re too sad,” Tommy replied, his tone serious now.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew looked at the boy, surprised by the honesty in his big, bright eyes. “Is there anything you want?” Andrew asked.

Tommy grinned. “Yeah. I want to buy flowers for my mom. She works really hard, but I don’t have any money.”

Andrew sighed again, reached for his wallet, and pulled out a few bills. “Here. Get your flowers. Maybe buy yourself something too. But leave me alone.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tommy’s face lit up. “Thanks, Mr. Grouch!” He ran out, clutching the money, while Andrew stared at the peppermint candy on the table.

With a sigh, he picked it up, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. To his surprise, the sharp sweetness helped ease the nausea. It wasn’t much, but it made a difference for a while.

That evening, as Andrew stared at his laptop, a nurse knocked on his door.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

She carried a small paper bag. “This is for you,” she said, placing it on the table. “Tommy sent it.”

Andrew opened the bag and found it full of peppermint candies. He shook his head, unsure whether to feel amused or moved.

The next morning, he decided to find Tommy. He needed to make one thing clear: the money wasn’t a gift.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

As he approached Tommy’s room, he saw a woman leaning against the wall, her shoulders shaking. She was crying.

“Are you okay?” Andrew asked, his voice low.

The woman wiped her eyes quickly and looked up. “Yes… Did you need something?”

“Tommy gave me some candies yesterday,” Andrew said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The woman’s lips curved into a small smile. “Oh, so you’re Mr. Grouch,” she said.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “My name’s Andrew,” he replied.

“I’m Sara,” she said. “Are you here for treatment too?”

Andrew nodded.

“Then you understand,” Sara said quietly. “The bills, the stress. I can’t even pay rent right now. They told me we’ll be evicted in two months.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew nodded again, unsure of what to say. Before he could respond, the door burst open. Tommy ran out, his face lighting up when he saw Andrew. “Hey, Mr. Grouch!” he called, grinning ear to ear.

From that day forward, Tommy became a constant presence in Andrew’s life.

The boy would wander into Andrew’s room with a big grin and endless energy. At first, Andrew found it annoying, but Tommy’s persistence wore him down.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Soon, Andrew began looking forward to the visits. Tommy taught him to notice the simple joys in life.

They sat by the window, watching the sunset, guessing the colors in the sky. They played harmless pranks on nurses, earning scolding looks and stifled smiles.

Sometimes, they “borrowed” wheelchairs and raced down the halls, laughing until their sides hurt.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew didn’t ask about Tommy’s illness. He wasn’t sure how to bring it up. One afternoon, Tommy mentioned Sara had been crying again. “She’s worried about money,” Tommy said. “We might lose our house.”

Andrew quietly gave Tommy an envelope of cash. “Tell her it’s from a magician,” he said.

When Sara tried to return the money, Andrew waved her off. “I’m not a magician,” he said. “I don’t know where it came from.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Weeks passed. Andrew’s treatments worked, and the day came when the doctor gave him the news—he was cancer-free.

Ecstatic, Andrew rushed to share it with Tommy. But when he arrived, Tommy was unconscious, Sara sitting beside him, tears streaming down her face.

“What happened?” Andrew asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Sara wiped her eyes and shook her head. “The doctors said there’s nothing more they can do.”

Andrew stared at her, struggling to process the words. “But… he seemed so happy. He always smiled. I thought he was improving.”

Sara looked at him, her face full of pain. “He didn’t want you to see how sick he was. He wanted to be strong for you. He thought he was a superhero.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Andrew’s chest tightened. “I’m so sorry.”

Sara managed a faint smile through her tears. “Don’t be. He said you saved him. These months, you gave him laughter and hope. You made him forget about being sick.”

Andrew shook his head slowly. “No. He’s the one who saved me.”

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. She cried quietly against his shoulder, and though Andrew wished he could take her pain away, he knew nothing would ever truly ease it.

That night, Tommy passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his mother and the memories he had made.

Andrew sat alone in his room afterward, overwhelmed by the loss. Andrew couldn’t bear the thought of such a bright soul being forgotten.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Determined, he started a foundation in Tommy’s name to help sick children, ensuring his kindness would live on.

He also stayed in touch with Sara, offering her support in every way he could.

One afternoon, Andrew stood at his ex-wife’s door, holding the painting she had demanded for so long. She opened the door, her mouth ready to hurl accusations, but Andrew silently handed her the painting.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I’m not here to argue,” Andrew said, his tone calm as he held out the painting.

His ex-wife frowned, puzzled. “What is this supposed to mean?” she asked.

“Nothing important,” Andrew replied, a small smile forming. “I’m just making sure I keep my superpowers.” Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

If you enjoyed this story, read this one: Taking care of Mom was hard enough without the tension with my sister. Accusations flew when precious things started disappearing. I thought I knew who was to blame, but the truth shattered my world. Betrayal came from where I least expected, leaving me questioning everything—and everyone—I trusted.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life.

Related Posts

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*