Stories

A strange sound from the bathroom on a cross-country flight gives flight attendant Leslie a terrible fright. Little does she realize that the kid inside will forever change her life.

“Amy!” Leslie called when she saw her fellow flight attendant. “Please tell me you have some headache pills?”

Amy looked at Leslie and rolled her eyes. “Of course I do, but you should know better than to party the night before a cross-country flight.”

“What else am I supposed to do, visit museums?” Leslie sighed. “At least partying keeps me distracted.”

Amy gave Leslie a friendly nudge, and the women boarded the plane together.

Leslie and Amy immediately got to work preparing for the passengers to board, then doing the safety demonstration and ensuring all the passengers settled in. Finally, Leslie crept to the galley and drank her headache pills.

“I wonder if Amy will mind if I lie down in the rest quarters for a bit,” Leslie said. She was heading off to speak to her colleague when an odd sound stopped her in her tracks.

Leslie paused, listening hard. A moment later, she decided she must’ve imagined it. Maybe Amy was right about her partying too much. She’d already planned to hit several clubs when they touched down in L. A, but perhaps she’d take it easy and skip a few of them.

Leslie knocked on the bathroom door. When nobody replied, she opened the door and peeped inside. A second later, she screamed.

A moment later, Leslie realized the shuddering bundle that frightened her was a young boy. He’d been crying and looked up at her with tearful eyes.

“Don’t do that!” Leslie said to the young boy who’d surprised her.

“What are you doing in here?”

The boy hugged his knees and started crying again. Now that she was over her shock, Leslie felt sorry for the boy. She crouched down in front of him.

“I’m sorry I shouted,” Leslie said. “You gave me a fright. I’m Leslie, what’s your name?”

The boy sniffed. “My name’s Ben.”

Leslie frowned. She checked the passenger list again but still didn’t find the boy’s name!

It had been far too long since Leslie last had to comfort a child. The thought filled her with longing for her home, but now was not the time to think of that. She sat beside Ben and put her hand on his arm.

“Ben, sweetie, are you lost? I can help you if you tell me where to find your family.”

Ben let out a sob. He was hugging a paper bag to his chest, Leslie noticed. It set her nerves on edge because of all the horror stories she’d heard about substances brought onto flights.

“What’s in the bag, Ben?” Leslie asked.

“It’s Granny’s medicine,” the boy replied. “She’s going to die without this medicine, and it will be all my fault!”

His mom hadn’t appreciated the explosive side effects of Ben’s quest to discover a cure for all diseases. He’d dearly hoped to make his mother proud and earn a hug from her, but instead, she’d made him sit in the corner.

“I just want her to look at me with the same love and pride she gives my older brothers when they do well.”

Ben sobbed. “That’s why I stole the bag of Granny’s medicine.”

When Ben’s grandmother fell ill, the family decided to visit her in Seattle and bring her medicine. Ben had gotten separated from his family at the airport. He’d eventually spotted his mother again and followed her onto the plane.

“But she wasn’t my mom,” Ben wailed. “And now I’m on the wrong plane. I wanted to be the hero who gave Granny her medicine, but now I’m the baddie. She’s going to die because of me.”

She stared at the boy she was now forced to look after and share her hotel room with. This wasn’t fair. She’d made a list of clubs to check out in L. A, but now she had to babysit instead.

“This is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I only hope it’s enough.”

Several times, she’d texted Amy and her other colleague, Brandon, but neither of them was willing to mind Ben for her. She’d even considered searching for a local babysitter but realized she couldn’t afford it. She had to save as much as possible to send home.

The pair were silently eating a pizza Leslie ordered for dinner when her phone rang. She answered it, and her stomach dropped when she heard what the caller said.

“My baby is sick?” Leslie asked. “What happened, mom? Joe was doing well the last time we spoke. Have you taken him to a doctor?”

“And she referred us to a specialist. We have an appointment for later this week. They mentioned a genetic disease and they might need you to come in for tests too since you’re his mom.”

“Whatever it takes, so long as my Joe gets better,” Leslie replied.

When she ended the call, Leslie curled into a ball and wept. She wished with all her heart she could wrap her son in her arms, smell his soft, curly hair, and tell him everything would be okay.

Unfortunately, Joe was far beyond her reach. Her flight schedule hadn’t taken her home in over a month. As much as she tried to forget her longing for her son by partying and getting wasted, nothing could stop her heart from aching.

“Miss Leslie?” Ben approached and put his hand on her arm. “I think you should have these for your Joe.”

“If I can’t save my granny, at least I can help you,” Ben said. “Take them for Joe so he can be healthy again.”

“I have a better idea.” Leslie started typing on her phone. “I’m going to get you to your granny in Seattle, Ben. Afterward, I’m going home to Missoula to see my son.”

Leslie booked a plane ticket for Ben at her own expense. She then organized leave and arranged to accompany Ben on his flight while on her way home.

“I’m scared,” Ben said as he and Leslie boarded their flight. “What if Granny is already dead because of my mistake? Mom will never love me then.”

“Your mom has always loved you, Ben, and she always will. That’s what parents do. I’m sure she’s been very worried and will be happy to see you safe.”

Ben didn’t seem to believe Leslie, even when his entire family rushed forward to hug him when they arrived in Seattle. Leslie looked on as Ben’s mom smothered him with kisses and swore never to ignore him again.

Unfortunately, Leslie’s reunion with her family was less cheerful. She was shocked to see how pale and thin Joe had become since she last saw him. He felt so fragile in her arms.

Leslie stayed up late that night talking to her mom and going over the various tests the doctors had run on Joe. She felt overwhelmed, helpless, and incredibly guilty.

When she finally retired for the evening, Leslie crept into Joe’s room and curled up next to him. She buried her face in his soft, coconut-scented hair and promised him, herself, and God to do whatever it took to see her son healthy and happy again.

Leslie put in for extra days on her leave, but the airline wasn’t very understanding. They refused to pay her for the time off, even though Joe was sick.

After another week of caring for Joe and paying for doctor’s visits, money was getting tight. Leslie’s mom was on a pension and had always relied on Leslie to pay for Joe’s needs while she cared for the child. Now, the women needed to figure out how to proceed.

“Maybe I can get a job here,” Leslie said. “Maybe something that pays better.”

“It’s worth looking at any rate,” Leslie’s mom shrugged. “If it comes to it, I can sell the house.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door that changed everything.

“Ben?” She noted then that the family she recognized from the airport was with him. “What’s going on?”

“I have something for you and Joe.” Ben presented Leslie with an envelope.

Leslie opened the envelope. Inside was a check. When Leslie saw the amount on it, her jaw dropped.

“What is this? I can’t accept it,” she stammered.

“It’s over a hundred thousand dollars!”

“We decided together that we should give you the money, for Joe,” Ben continued.

“We announced what we planned to do on the crowdfunding campaign too,” Ben’s dad added, “so everything is above board.”

Leslie pressed the check to her chest as tears welled up in her eyes. “Thank you all so much,” she sobbed. “This is the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I only hope it’s enough.”

Ben lunged forward and hugged Leslie’s legs. “It will be enough, I’m sure of it! And when Joe is better one day, I’m going to come back here to play with him.”

Leslie smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “You’ll always be welcome to visit here, Ben.”

As Leslie watched him playing with the neighbor’s dog on the front lawn, it was hard to imagine a time when he hadn’t been strong and full of laughter.

“And it’s all thanks to Ben,” she muttered.

The familiar sound of a plane soaring overhead drew Leslie’s eyes skywards. She would soon return to work. She’d also just thought of the perfect way to repay Ben’s family for their generosity.

She pulled out her phone and started making calls. The next day, she called Ben’s mom to tell her that the airline offered her family a generous discount on all flights for the rest of their lives.

What can we learn from this story?

• All children need attention. Ben was desperate to earn his mother’s affection, so he acted foolishly. If she’d realized her son felt neglected, she could’ve acted sooner to ensure he always felt loved.
• You can only avoid emotional pain for so long. Instead of distracting herself from the pain of missing her family with partying and destructive habits, Leslie could’ve found a healthier coping mechanism.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who hears her son’s voice minutes after his life support is turned off.

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.

When a woman brings a box of toys to a group home, she meets a boy who is the carbon copy of her late husband. She decides to adopt the boy, only to find out that the boy was more than just her husband’s lookalike.

Mark proposed to Nicole and decided to tie the knot in a simple civil ceremony with only their parents and siblings in the audience. In the months following their wedding, they tried really hard to have children, but they just couldn’t conceive.

After trying for over three years, they decided to visit the doctor to find out why they couldn’t conceive a child naturally and to find out their options. Instead of an alternative to conceiving naturally, they received the heartbreaking news that Mark had a malignant tumor in his lungs that made it to other parts of his body. By then, it was too late to remove it.

“In another life, this is how I would have loved for us to spend the rest of our lives, Mark,” Nicole cried one day as she cradled a young baby in her arms. “Us, with our kids…” she started to daydream before her eyes filled with tears. By then, she could no longer stop sobbing.

“Why did it have to be you?” Nicole cried. “Why us?” she asked, again and again.

By then, Mark’s health had started to deteriorate, and he could no longer go anywhere without his oxygen tank. In just a span of a few short weeks, he was bedridden and he eventually died in his sleep. “No more pain, my love,” Nicole cried. “I love you.”

One day, a couple of days before Christmas, Nicole visited the group home with new toys and books for the children. She loved spending time with them, as it reminded her of better days with Mark.

While looking around, she suddenly spotted a new boy about the age of four in the midst of all the children playing. “It can’t be,” she whispered to herself. The boy looked exactly like Mark did when he was younger, with hazelnut brown eyes, porcelain skin with freckles, and chocolate brown hair. It was like looking straight at a younger Mark.

“That is Tony,” the administrator revealed. His mom died about a year ago, and unfortunately, his foster family did not choose to adopt him and could no longer afford to keep him with them, so he’s back here,” he explained.

“What about his father? Do you know who he is?” she decided to ask.

The administrator shook his head. “He didn’t have a dad on his birth certificate. It was just his mom,” he revealed.

It was then that Nicole decided to approach Tony to get to know him a little bit. “Hi there,” she smiled at him. “I’m Nicole. I brought some toys and books for all the kids. Do you want some of them?”

Tony flashed a big smile, showing one dimple on the right side of his cheek, the same dimple that Mark had. “Toys! Yes, I want a toy and some books,” the young boy said. “Thank you! You are so kind!”

After staring into each other’s eyes with big smiles on their faces, Nicole could feel herself growing attached to Tony. He not only reminded him of Mark, but she had always wanted a child, and now, it seemed like she finally found a son in Tony.

“When I saw his eyes, I knew it couldn’t just be a coincidence,” she revealed.

That night, Nicole spent all her time with Tony. The boy wouldn’t leave Nicole’s side, and the two of them played and read books together. After talking to the group home’s administrator, Nicole decided to go through all the needed processes to take Tony home.

Months later, when it was finally completed, Nicole invited all of her family members to dinner, including Mark’s family, to meet the boy.

When her mother-in-law Mara entered the house, Nicole noticed how the older woman’s face changed when she saw Tony. “Doesn’t he look exactly like Mark?” Nicole asked, thinking that she was just surprised to see how much the boy resembled her son in childhood.

The dinner went smoothly, and Tony couldn’t be happier to be surrounded by so many family members. “I’ve never had a big family like this,” he admitted.

That night, Tony went to sleep with a big smile on his face. “I love you, mom. Thank you for being my family,” the young boy said before going to sleep.

The next morning, Nicole’s mother-in-law unexpectedly showed up on their doorstep again. “I have something to tell you,” she said quietly.

Nicole asked her to come in and prepared a cup of coffee for her. “What is it, mom?” she asked.

“A few weeks before your wedding, his ex-girlfriend Tara appeared on our doorstep. At the time, Mark no longer wanted to see her, and didn’t want to have anything to do with her because he loved you – he really did, Nicole,” she started to explain.

“But when she arrived in our home, she had a big belly that one could spot from meters away. She was eight months pregnant at the time,” Mara explained.

Mara shamefully nodded her head. “We didn’t want to believe her, because it’d been about seven months since she and Mark had broken up. After all, he was already with you and I didn’t want to destroy what you and Mark had. I hadn’t seen my son so happy with anyone else but you,” Mara said, trying to reach out for Nicole’s hand.

Nicole couldn’t believe what her mother-in-law was saying, but she couldn’t deny her gut feeling that Tony was Mark’s son. “When I saw his eyes, I knew it couldn’t just be a coincidence,” she revealed.

That night, Nicole decided to look for one of Mark’s old hairbrushes to get some strands of hair, so she could get a DNA test for him and Tony. Despite what she found out, she never treated Tony differently, and the two of them still spent most of their time together.

Should we have helped her ex-girlfriend when she was still alive? she thought to herself. What if he had decided to leave me to go back to his ex-girlfriend so that they could raise their child together?

Her thoughts were racing with so many different thoughts until Tony walked up to her and hugged her. “You look sad, mom,” he told her. “Please don’t be sad. I love you,” he said, tightening his grip on Nicole.

It was then that Nicole smiled. She was happy that even though Mark never got to meet his son, she was now able to care for him on his behalf. “I love you, sweetheart,” she replied. “More than you’ll ever know.”

• Children should not be blamed for their parents’ mistakes. Even though Nicole found out that Tony was her late husband’s son with another woman, she never took it out on the kid, knowing he was never at fault for anything. Instead, she used this as just another reason to love her son more, knowing that he was related to her beloved husband.
• It’s never too late for new beginnings. Nicole was heartbroken after losing her husband Mark. It was only when she found Tony that she was able to begin again and experience happiness like she did before her husband got sick.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a little boy who asked his parents to adopt an abandoned girl, only for his mom to find out that she is actually her biological daughter.

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.

A mother stood perplexed when she saw another boy who looked exactly like her son at school. After digging deep, she made a shocking discovery.

Thus, it was not a surprise when she got a scholarship to study at Yale University. After years of hard work and excellence, she graduated at the top of her class in medical school.

However, while things were going fine in her career, she was not having it easy in her marriage. Her first marriage was to Luke Charming, who she met at Yale.

Hence, it was not a surprise when they tied the knot. Many of their friends and loved ones attended their wedding ceremony, which was almost carnival-like.

After six years of marriage, Luke and Samantha were yet to have a child. At first, it did not matter, but Luke became angry about the situation as time went on.

When the doctor told them Samantha could not get pregnant, he lost his mind. Samantha suggested they try other means, but he was not having any of it.

She found love again three years later. This time, it was with Jeremy Miller, a photojournalist she met at a medical convention. They had an instant connection and started dating soon after their first meeting.

Samantha discovered Jeremy had an 8-year-old son, Brian. She and Brian bonded so sweetly and quickly became fond of each other.

She always took him to school whenever she stayed over at Jeremy’s place. Jeremy told her Brian’s mom died at childbirth and it made her love him even more.

Jeremy and Samantha tied the knot six months after they started dating. Unlike Samantha’s first marriage with Luke, their wedding ceremony was a more private and intimate affair.

Things seemed perfect for Jeremy and Samantha after tying the knot. Brian’s presence added spice to their relationship. Jeremy loved his son’s bond with his wife and felt lucky for marrying her.

There was something he had hidden from her since meeting her but he felt he could no longer tell her now that they were married for fear of losing her.

The Christmas season arrived quickly and Samantha had everything planned out for an enjoyable experience. She loved the holiday season as a child and was keen to make it memorable for Brian.

Part of her schedule was to take him to school for the Christmas fair. She bought him a special costume for the fair and watched him proudly as he sauntered into the hall.

As she turned around, she saw another young boy, who looked just like Brian. They had similar facial features and physique, but the other boy could not walk very well.

An elderly woman with gray hair stood behind the other boy. Samantha was tempted to ask the woman about the boy but debated about it in her mind. Eventually, she spoke to the woman.

“Hmmmm,” the elderly woman sighed. “Do you have time to spare? Because this is going to be a long conversation.”

Samantha and the gray-haired woman went to a nearby cafe. The woman introduced herself as Meghan Louis. She said she was the grandma of the boy Samantha saw her with. “His name is Anderson and he was born a twin,” the elderly woman added.

Samantha placed her hands on her mouth and gasped when she heard the woman’s words. The woman calmed her down and explained further.

Meghan revealed that Jeremy is Anderson’s father. After discovering his wife had died in labor, and one of his sons had a defect, he took the healthy child and abandoned Anderson.

The healthy child is Brian, who Jeremy raised, but he completely neglected Anderson. Meghan adopted Anderson and has been raising him since then.

When Meghan concluded her story, Samantha’s eyes filled with tears. She was speechless and found it difficult to believe how wicked Jeremy had been.

After the Christmas fair, she ran to Anderson and hugged him tightly. She introduced him to Brian and told the boys they were twin brothers.

This was what he had always wanted to tell her but could not bring himself to say for fear of losing her. Now, his old demons had come back to bite him.

Jeremy promised to reunite with his abandoned second son and build a relationship with him. However, Samantha said she could not continue with the marriage.

“How could you be so mean to a little child? The son of your wife, who died while bringing him to life!” Samantha asked Jeremy. “Oh, Jeremy! You are so mean. This marriage is over! Goodbye!” she concluded.

Meanwhile, Jeremy, now very remorseful, met his abandoned son and apologized to him and Meghan. He introduced Brian to Anderson and told the boys about their mom.

Samantha never returned to Jeremy but dedicated herself to caring for his sons, whom she took as her own. She was fulfilled being in the boys’ presence and lived a happy life afterward.

What did we gain from this story?

• Don’t look down on people because of their present condition. Jeremy looked down on his son, Anderson, because of his defect and did not even allow himself to be a father to him. Later, he came to regret that decision.
• Be kind to others. Always be kind to others. Samantha exuded kindness and was disappointed at Jeremy for his meanness. Because of a single, wicked act, Jeremy lost the love of his life.
• The world is a small place. Be kind to everyone. One never knows what can happen in the future. The little help given to someone today can lead to great things someday. However, if one is mean to others, they will eventually reap their rewards.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a grieving mom who meets a limping mute boy who looks exactly like her late son and takes a DNA test.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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.

It started as a lighthearted prank, just something fun to send my husband off to his work party with a laugh. But when he stumbled home drunk and I found a reply to my joke scrawled on his chest, it became clear that this night was about to change everything.

I’m Micaela, and I’ve been married to Travis for five years. We were that couple everyone thought would last forever.

We met in college — me, a focused business major, and Travis, the charming goofball with dreams of climbing the corporate ladder. He was everything I didn’t know I needed. We balanced each other out, or so I thought.

Looking back, the early days of our relationship were so full of life and so carefree. Travis could make me laugh like no one else.

Even when things were tough — like when I lost my first job out of college or when his father passed away — we leaned on each other. We had each other’s backs. At least, that’s how it used to be.

Things changed gradually, almost imperceptibly. He started working longer hours, and I found a remote job. At first, I loved it. Working from home meant I had more flexibility and more time for myself.

It was the week before Christmas, and like clockwork, Travis’ company was throwing their annual holiday party. I didn’t have to worry about that anymore, thanks to working from home, but Travis, well, he was still part of the 9-to-5 grind.

He seemed excited about the party, though, and I figured it was a nice break from the routine for him.

I remember standing in our bedroom, watching him as he got dressed. He was fiddling with his shirt buttons, looking a bit nervous.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asked, glancing down.

“Nothing, except you wore it to the last party and the one before that. Maybe switch it up a bit this year?” I suggested with a smile.

He chuckled. “You know me, Mica. I’m not exactly a fashion icon.”

While he was fixing his shirt in the mirror, I absentmindedly picked up a black marker from the dresser. I twirled it in my fingers, my mind wandering to silly thoughts. And then, a mischievous idea struck me.

“Hey, Trav, hold still,” I said, walking up behind him.

“This,” I said, as I scribbled on his chest in bold letters, “This is my husband. If you touch him, you’ll pay for it. M.”

Travis stared at my handiwork in the mirror and shook his head, amused. “Really, Mica? That’s what you’re going with?”

“What? It’s cute!” I grinned. “Besides, now everyone knows you’re off-limits.”

“Yeah, because that’s what every guy wants — his wife’s handwriting all over him,” he teased, pulling his shirt down.

He planted a tender kiss on my cheek before grabbing his coat. “I’ll be back early, promise. Don’t wait up.”

And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

In Travis’ absence, I decided to make use of the time. Our living room still needed decorating, and I’d been meaning to put up the Christmas tree for days. I blasted some holiday music and began hanging the stockings and stringing up the lights. It felt good: that familiar warmth of Christmas filling the house.

“Heyyyy, I’m home,” he slurred, grinning as he leaned against the doorframe for support.

I sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated. “You said you’d be back early.”

“Yeah, well, I lost track of time,” he mumbled.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” I said, walking over to him and looping my arm under his to guide him to our room.

There, on his chest, right above where I had written my playful message, was a reply: smudged and faded but unmistakable. “Keep the change.”

At first, I laughed. It seemed like the kind of thing one of his friends would do after a few drinks. But the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. Who had written it? And why?

That night, I lay in bed next to Travis, who was snoring softly, and stared at the ceiling. The words echoed in my mind, refusing to let me sleep. “Keep the change.” It was such a simple phrase, but it felt like a warning, like something was off.

I tried to push the thoughts away, telling myself it was just a joke. Travis had never given me a reason not to trust him. We had a good marriage — solid, built on years of love and mutual respect. He wouldn’t jeopardize that, would he?

But still, doubt crept in, little by little, until it was all I could think about.

The next morning, Travis woke up groggy, his head pounding from the night before. As we sat at the kitchen table, sipping coffee in awkward silence, I finally asked him about the message.

He looked up, confused. “Uh, bits and pieces. Why?”

“Well,” I said, choosing my words carefully, “someone left a reply to my little note on your chest.”

He blinked. “A reply?”

“Yeah, ‘Keep the change.'”

Travis’ brow furrowed in confusion. “What? Who would’ve written that?”

“I don’t know, you tell me,” I said, my voice light but laced with tension. “You’re the one who was there.”

But his explanation didn’t ease the discomfort I felt. If anything, it made it worse.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. For days, the message haunted me. Every time I looked at Travis, I wondered if he was hiding something.

He seemed normal enough, but there was a subtle change in the way he acted — or maybe I was imagining it. Either way, I couldn’t let it go.

That’s when I decided to talk to my mom. I spilled everything over a cup of coffee, even the nagging feeling that had been eating at me since that night. She listened quietly, her face thoughtful, and then she offered a suggestion I wasn’t expecting.

“What? You mean… spy on him?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“Not spy, exactly,” she replied. “Just… check. If there’s nothing to worry about, you’ll know. And if there is…”

She didn’t need to finish the sentence. I knew what she meant.

Reluctantly, I agreed. I installed a GPS tracker on his car, feeling both guilty and anxious. For the next week, I watched his movements. Everything seemed normal at first — just work, home, work again. But then, one night, he called me.

I didn’t think much of it until I glanced at the tracker. His car wasn’t at the office. It was moving… away from it, toward a part of town we rarely visited.

My stomach knotted. Without thinking, I grabbed my keys and followed him.

My heart raced as I parked a few houses down from where the GPS indicated his car was. It was a beautiful, upscale neighborhood: the kind where the homes looked like they belonged on magazine covers. But what was he doing here?

Then I saw him.

Travis stepped out of one of the houses, smiling, and next to him… a woman. She was tall, elegant, and reached out to him as he turned to face her. And then she kissed him.

I don’t know how long I sat there, staring at the images on my screen, but eventually, I got out of the car and walked toward them.

Travis saw me first. His face turned pale, and the woman let go of his arm, her eyes widening in surprise.

“So,” I said, my voice shaking, “you’re the one who left the message on my husband?”

The woman looked at me for a moment, and then, to my surprise, she smiled sadly. “You deserve better,” she said softly. “Men like him… they’re like spare change. Easy to throw away.”

I felt the tears welling up, but I refused to let them fall. Travis stood there, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, but no words came out.

When I got back to my car, there was a text from my mom. “I’m here for you, sweetheart. Call me when you’re ready. Also, here’s the number for a good divorce lawyer.”

This Christmas wasn’t what I expected. Instead of the celebration I’d hoped for, I was given the gift of truth — painful, but necessary. Now, I’m facing a new beginning. A new year that’s about rediscovery, healing, and finding happiness on my own terms.

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, all we can do is pick up the pieces and move forward.

What would you have done differently if you were in my shoes?

If this story was worth your while, then you might like another one: When I opened the door to see my ex-husband on his knees, I knew something was seriously wrong. The man who once shattered my life was now pleading for me to fix his, but the reason why left me speechless.

Click here to read the whole story.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

After a week away, I came home to the strange and unsettling sight of my kids sleeping on the cold hallway floor. Heart pounding, I searched for answers, only to find my husband missing and odd noises coming from the kids’ room. What I uncovered next left me furious — and ready for a fight!

I mean, a week is practically forever when you’re 6 and 8. And Mark? Well, I figured he’d be glad to hand the reins back to me. He’s a great dad, don’t get me wrong, but he’s always been more of the fun parent than the responsible one.

As I pulled into our driveway at midnight, I couldn’t help but grin. The house was dark and quiet, just as it should be at this ungodly hour.

I grabbed my suitcase and tiptoed to the front door, keys jingling softly in my hand.

The lock clicked open, and I stepped inside, ready to collapse into bed. But something was… wrong.

My foot hit something soft, and I froze. Heart pounding, I fumbled for the light switch. When the hall lit up, I almost screamed.

Tommy and Alex were sprawled out on the floor, tangled up in blankets like a couple of puppies. They were fast asleep, but their faces were smudged with dirt, and their hair was sticking up in all directions.

I crept past them, afraid to wake them up until I knew what was going on. The living room was a disaster zone, littered with pizza boxes, soda cans, and what looked suspiciously like melted ice cream on the coffee table. But no sign of Mark.

My heart was doing the cha-cha in my chest as I made my way to our bedroom. Empty.

The bed was still made, like it hadn’t been slept in today. Mark’s car was in the driveway, so where was he?

That’s when I heard it. A faint, muffled sound coming from the boys’ room. I tiptoed over, my imagination running wild. Was Mark hurt? Had some psycho broken in and tied him up?

“What. The. Actual—” I bit my tongue, remembering the kids were just down the hall.

There was Mark, headphones on, controller in hand, surrounded by empty energy drink cans and snack wrappers. But that wasn’t even the craziest part.

The boys’ room had been transformed into some kind of gamer paradise. A massive TV took up one wall, there were LED lights everywhere, and I’m pretty sure that monstrosity in the corner was a mini-fridge.

I stood there, mouth hanging open, as the rage built up inside me like a volcano about to blow. Mark hadn’t even noticed me yet, too engrossed in whatever game he was playing.

I stomped over and yanked the headphones off his head. “Mark! What the hell is going on?”

He blinked at me, looking dazed. “Oh, hey babe. You’re home early.”

“Early? It’s midnight! Why are our children sleeping on the floor?”

He shrugged, reaching for his controller again. “Oh, it’s fine. The boys were happy sleeping outside. They thought it was an adventure.”

I snatched the controller away. “An adventure? They’re not camping, Mark! They’re sleeping on our dirty hallway floor!”

“Feeding them? You mean the pizza boxes and ice cream in the living room?” I could feel my blood pressure rising with every word. “And what about baths? Or, I don’t know, their actual beds?”

Mark rolled his eyes. “They’re fine, Sarah. Lighten up a bit.”

That’s when I lost it.

“Lighten up? LIGHTEN UP? Our children are sleeping on the floor like animals while you play video games in their room! What is wrong with you?”

I took a deep breath, trying not to scream. “You know what? We’re not doing this right now. Go put the boys in their beds. Now.”

“But I’m in the middle of—”

“NOW, Mark!”

He grumbled but got up, shuffling past me.

I watched him pick up Tommy, who stirred a little but didn’t wake up. As Mark carried him to bed, I couldn’t help but think how alike they looked: one actual child and the man acting like one.

The next morning, I put my plan into action.

While Mark was in the shower, I snuck into the man cave he’d created and unplugged everything. Then I got to work.

When he came downstairs, hair still wet, I was waiting for him with a big smile. “Good morning, sweetie! I made you breakfast!”

He looked at me suspiciously. “Uh, thanks?”

I set a plate in front of him. In the middle was a Mickey Mouse-shaped pancake with a smiley face made of fruit. His coffee was in a sippy cup.

“What’s this?” he asked, poking at the pancake.

“It’s your breakfast, silly! Now eat up, we have a big day ahead of us!”

After breakfast, I unveiled my masterpiece, a giant, colorful chore chart plastered on the fridge. “Look what I made for you!”

Mark’s eyes widened. “What the hell is that?”

“Language!” I scolded. “It’s your very own chore chart! See? You can earn gold stars for cleaning your room, doing the dishes, and putting away your toys!”

“My toys? Sarah, what are you—”

Mark’s face went from confused to angry. “Are you kidding me? I’m a grown man, I don’t need—”

“Ah, ah, ah!” I wagged my finger. “No arguing, or you’ll have to go to the timeout corner!”

For the next week, I stuck to my guns. Every night at 9, I’d shut off the Wi-Fi and unplug his gaming console.

I even tucked him into bed with a glass of milk and read him “Goodnight Moon” in my most soothing voice.

His meals were served on plastic plates with little dividers. I cut his sandwiches into dinosaur shapes and gave him animal crackers for snacks. When he complained, I’d say things like, “Use your words, honey. Big boys don’t whine.”

“Look at you, putting your laundry away all by yourself! Mommy’s so proud!”

He’d grit his teeth and mutter, “I’m not a child, Sarah.”

To which I’d reply, “Of course not, sweetie. Now, who wants to help make cookies?”

The breaking point came about a week into my little experiment. Mark had just been sent to the timeout corner for throwing a fit about his two-hour screen time limit. He sat there, fuming, while I calmly set the kitchen timer.

“This is ridiculous!” he exploded. “I’m a grown man, for God’s sake!”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Are you sure about that? Because grown men don’t make their children sleep on the floor so they can play video games all night.”

He deflated a little. “Okay, okay, I get it! I’m sorry!”

I studied him for a moment. He did look genuinely remorseful, but I wasn’t going to let him off the hook when I had one last blow to deliver.

“Oh, I accept your apology,” I said sweetly. “But I’ve already called your mom…”

Right on cue, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to reveal Mark’s mother, looking every bit the disappointed parent.

“Mark!” she bellowed, marching into the house. “Did you really make my sweeties sleep on the floor so you could play your little games?”

Mark looked like he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. “Mom, it’s not… I mean, I didn’t…”

She turned to me, her face softening. “Sarah, dear, I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. I thought I raised him better than that.”

I patted her arm. “It’s not your fault, Linda. Some boys just take longer to grow up than others.”

Linda ignored him, turning back to me. “Well, not to worry. I’ve cleared my schedule for the next week. I’ll whip this boy back into shape in no time!”

As Linda bustled off to the kitchen, muttering about the state of the dishes, I caught Mark’s eye. He looked utterly defeated.

“Sarah,” he said quietly. “I really am sorry. I was selfish and irresponsible. It won’t happen again.”

I softened a little. “I know, honey. But when I’m away, I need to know you’ve got things under control. The boys need a father, not another playmate.”

I smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “I know you will. Now, why don’t you go help your mother with the dishes? If you do a good job, maybe we can have ice cream for dessert.”

As Mark trudged off to the kitchen, I couldn’t help but feel a little smug. Lesson learned, I hoped. And if not… well, I still had that timeout corner ready and waiting.

Here’s another story: When I arrived at my pregnant sister’s house, I never expected to find her husband treating her like a servant. But what I did next, with a watermelon and a crazy bet, changed everything. Click here to read more.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

A poor woman discovers a strange Christmas ball at a flea market and decides to purchase it. However, when she puts it on the Christmas tree at home, it falls to the floor and cracks open, revealing a note inside.

As Abbie walked through a few stalls, her gaze was drawn to a strange Christmas ball at an isolated stall in the corner. It was old, but it was beautiful to look at, and within her price range, so she bought it before anyone else did.

Back home, Abbie was hanging the pretty ball on the Christmas tree when it fell and cracked open, revealing a note inside.

“Yeah, what is it, honey?” Nicholas inquired as he returned from the living room, where he’d been arranging fairy lights and other decorations.

“I found this inside the Christmas ball I bought from the flea market today,” Abbie explained, holding up the note with the address and the message. “Looks like some sort of treasure hunt game.”

“It’s a hidden treasure map, Abbie! Do you see these coordinates? We can find the exact location of the treasure using them. This could turn out to be a lottery for us. What if we discover gold and jewels?”

“But honey, we have a lot of work ahead of us. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I don’t want to rush anything.”

“Listen, just imagine if we get the treasure. We won’t have to worry about our bills. And we can seek treatment at a better hospital for you.”

Abbie wasn’t impressed with Nicholas’ apparent excitement over finding the treasure. But then she remembered how they’d been struggling to make ends meet month after month.

Perhaps this was God’s way of ending our difficulties, Abbie pondered. “All right, honey, let’s go there. But I hope it’s worth our while.”

Abbie and Nicholas sat down that evening, brought out their city map, and studied it. After a few hours of plotting, they discovered that the coordinates were only a few miles away from the address they’d discovered inside the ball.

Abbie finished the Christmas eve preparations early the next day, and they left home by afternoon, expecting to be back before Nicholas’ brother arrived. However, because of the traffic, the sun had already begun to set by the time they reached the place. It was getting dark, and due to the snow on the roads, they had to pull over a few kilometers before the address and walk there.

“But what about the coordinates?” Abbie asked. “Are we still far?”

“It’s not that far, honey. All we have to do is walk 20 steps from the house to the end of a lane where we’ll find a park, which is exactly where the treasure should be as per the coordinates.”

Abbie took a deep breath and followed Nicholas, hoping their search wouldn’t be in vain.

About 10 minutes later, they reached an old oak tree in the center of the park. The whole area around was eerily quiet, and nobody seemed in close sight.

“But honey…” Before Nicholas could say anything, a voice from behind interrupted him.

“I never imagined anyone would find it. But it appears that I was mistaken.”

Nicholas and Abbie focused their attention in the direction of the voice and saw a frail woman emerge from one end of the park. “My name is Paisley Morgan,” the woman introduced herself. “I am quite surprised how you found it.”

“A treasure?! Sure, woman!” Nicholas frowned. “My wife is right. We shouldn’t have followed that crappy address inside the Christmas ball. It’s Christmas Eve, and look at the trash pile we just discovered!”

“Calm down, honey. That’s impolite,” Abbie spoke softly to Nicholas. “I apologize for my husband’s behavior, ma’am. He didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“What are you apologizing for, Abbie? This lady is insane! She hid some stupid toy soldiers, believing it to be a treasure. It’s nothing but TRASH.”

Nicholas was furious. He grabbed Abbie’s hand and prepared to leave, but the old woman said something that made them stop in their tracks.

“ONE MAN’S TRASH CAN BE ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE! The toy soldiers you see were a Christmas gift for my grandson. Unfortunately, he could never receive them.”

Nicholas and Abbie slowly turned around and discovered Paisley in tears.

“We’re very sorry, ma’am,” Abbie said. “We didn’t mean to…”

“It’s okay. I don’t blame you, but don’t judge something without knowing the whole story. Anyway, you should leave. It’s Christmas Eve, and your family will be waiting for you.”

When Nicholas was a child, he spent most of his time with his grandmother because his parents had died in a car accident. He missed her terribly when she died. Seeing this woman longing for her grandson, all of his childhood memories flashed before his eyes.

He apologized to Paisley for his rude behavior and held her hand in his. “I’m truly sorry for what happened before. I had no idea they were your grandson’s.”

Paisley smiled faintly as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “If Riley were here today, he’d be exactly like you. He loved troubling me…” the older woman said and she told them the whole story.

When they took Riley away, Paisley became really lonely. One day, when she was cleaning their house, she sold some of their old possessions, and that’s how the Christmas ball with the note ended up in the flea market.

Later that evening, Paisley joined Nicholas and Abbie for dinner at their home. Nicholas’ brother was also present, and they all had a good time talking about how they’d discovered a “treasure” through the Christmas ball Abbie had bought from the flea market.

The next day, Nicholas, Paisley, and Abbie went to Riley’s orphanage and started the process for adoption. One month later, when the adoption was finalized, Riley and Paisley joined Nicholas and Abbie. What began as a treasure hunt led to a miracle that changed four people’s lives.

What can we learn from this story?

• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Nicholas thought the toy soldiers were worthless, but Paisley treasured them because they held sentimental value for her.
• Miracles do happen. Having a loving family again was like a miracle for Riley and Paisley. All thanks to Nicholas and Abbie, who made it happen by adopting Riley and asking Paisley to move in with them. They are now a large, happy family.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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.

I thought I was just doing my neighbor a favor by interrupting her dinner, but as I watched from the window, everything changed. What I saw that night wasn’t just a family squabble — it was a betrayal that would destroy everything she thought she knew.

I wasn’t expecting to make close friends, but then Hazel moved in next door with her husband, Sebastian, and things changed. We hit it off almost instantly. She was one of those rare people who made you feel seen and understood — like you could tell her anything.

Our friendship grew quickly, from casual chats over the fence to morning coffee sessions in our kitchens. Sebastian was always there in the background, the kind of guy who never caused any drama. Their marriage seemed perfect, at least on the surface.

But lately, Hazel wasn’t herself. She’d been more on edge, throwing out cryptic comments about how things were “getting weird” at home, especially with her mother-in-law, Donna.

Hazel said Donna was stirring up drama behind the scenes, spreading lies about her, and making life unnecessarily hard. At first, I thought she was exaggerating. I mean, how bad could it really be, right? I’d met Donna a few times; she seemed like your typical overbearing MIL, but nothing out of the ordinary.

“Seven sharp,” she said. No other details, just this urgency in her voice that made me agree without pushing her for more.

I figured maybe she was just trying to escape another awkward family moment. But what happened next… well, let’s just say I wasn’t ready for it.

So, there I was, at 7 p.m., standing at Hazel’s door. I knocked twice before Sebastian answered with his usual warm smile.

“Addison! What a surprise. Come in,” he said, stepping aside to let me in. But before I could even respond, Hazel came rushing into the hallway, practically shoving past him. Her hand grabbed mine in a tight grip, and I barely had time to process it before she dragged me outside again.

“Hazel,” I whispered urgently, “forget about Donna for a second. Look over there…”

“Hazel, what’s going on?” I asked, my heart racing as she led me across the yard and into my own house. “Why did you just pull me out of there? You need to explain what’s happening.”

“Just… come with me,” Hazel said, her voice low and trembling. “You’ll see in a second, I promise. We’ve got the perfect view from your upstairs window.”

I followed her, still confused but too curious to refuse. She led me up the stairs and into the guest room, pushing open the door.

We both crouched by the window that overlooked her dining room. The view was perfect, just like she said. I could see straight into her kitchen where Sebastian and Donna were finishing up dinner preparations.

“What are we doing here, Hazel?” I whispered, my breath shallow. I was nervous, and I didn’t even know why yet.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she pointed toward her MIL. That’s when I saw Donna hovering over the food, glancing around as if she were trying to make sure no one was watching. I leaned closer, my eyes narrowing. Was she sprinkling something into the food?

I turned to Hazel, my mind spinning. “Is she… Is she poisoning the food?” My voice came out in a horrified whisper.

My jaw dropped. “She’s been doing that on purpose? Why?”

“I don’t know,” Hazel admitted, her voice thick with frustration. “She wants to make me look incompetent in front of Sebastian. Every time something goes wrong, it’s like she gets this twisted satisfaction out of it.”

I was about to say something when a movement from the corner of my eye made my stomach flip. I froze, my eyes widening.

My heart sank as I stared down from the window, barely able to believe what I was seeing. There, just inches apart, were Sebastian and Hazel’s sister, Zoey. His hand brushed against her arm, lingering for far too long. Then, it happened. They kissed. And it wasn’t some accidental, fleeting peck either; it was long, slow, and intentional.

My stomach twisted. This wasn’t just some misunderstanding. It was betrayal — raw and real. Hazel had been worried about her mother-in-law, Donna, but this? This was something else entirely.

Beside me, Hazel froze, her face draining of color as she processed what was unfolding right in front of her. Her body trembled as if she could barely keep herself together.

I reached for her hand, but she pulled away, her eyes fixed on the scene below. The fury bubbling inside her was almost tangible. I didn’t dare speak.

“This,” she said, her voice barely controlled, “this ends tonight.” Her eyes snapped to me, a fierce determination replacing the initial shock. “I’m not letting this slide. Not any of it.”

She yanked her phone out of her pocket, her fingers trembling as she began to snap photos of the scene: her mother-in-law sneaking around the kitchen and her husband cozying up to Zoey.

“Absolutely,” she said, the edge in her voice sharpening. “I’ve put up with too much for too long. They all think I’m blind, that I don’t notice what’s going on around me. Well, tonight, they’re going to learn.”

Without missing a beat, she dialed my number and handed me the phone. “Stay on the line. You’re going to record everything.”

Before I could respond, Hazel stormed downstairs. I watched, my pulse racing, the phone pressed tightly to my ear. Her footsteps were deliberate, each one echoing in the now quiet house.

“Hazel?” he stammered. “What are you doing here?”

Hazel’s voice was cold, every word coated in controlled anger. “What am I doing here? No, Sebastian. The better question is, what are YOU doing?”

Zoey’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face. She opened her mouth, probably to start spewing excuses, but Hazel cut her off.

“Zoey, don’t even try it,” Hazel snapped, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage and heartbreak. “You know exactly what I saw.”

“Not what it looks like?” Hazel laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “Do you think I’m stupid? I saw it all. Addison saw it all. And before you even think about lying again, you should know—I recorded the whole thing.”

Sebastian’s face turned ghostly white. “Hazel, wait,” he started, stumbling over his words. “It’s… complicated.”

Sebastian opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Just then, Donna rushed in from the kitchen, her face pale, her hands trembling. She must’ve realized she’d been caught too.

“Hazel, dear,” Donna began, her voice shaky, “it’s not what you—”

Hazel didn’t even look at her. “Don’t,” she warned, her voice low and deadly. “Just don’t. I know exactly what you’ve been doing. Sabotaging my meals, spreading lies about me! What, did you think I wouldn’t figure it out? You’ve been doing this for months.”

“No!” Sebastian blurted out, his hands reaching out as if he could somehow physically stop what was happening. “It’s not like that—Hazel, please, just let me explain.”

Sebastian’s face crumpled. “What do you mean, done?”

Hazel looked him square in the eyes. “I’m filing for divorce. And Zoey?” She turned to her sister, whose tear-streaked face showed nothing but regret. “You are dead to me.”

“Hazel, please,” Zoey begged, her voice breaking, “it wasn’t serious! It just… happened.”

“Just happened?” Hazel’s voice trembled. “You’re my sister. You’re supposed to have my back. But instead, you’re here—throwing yourself at my husband?” Her face hardened, and she let out a deep breath. “I’m done with both of you.”

As I listened from the other end of the line, my heart ached for Hazel. The betrayal she had uncovered in a single night was almost unbearable. But there she was, standing tall, reclaiming her strength.

Hazel turned on her heel, leaving them both in stunned silence. She didn’t look back.

That night, Hazel’s house remained quiet and dark, but I knew her world had changed forever.

She had taken her power back — but the cost was heavy. And as her friend, all I could do was be there for her, to help her pick up the pieces of a life torn apart by betrayal.

You can read the full story by clicking here.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Rich businessman Caleb runs into his office janitor bearing a striking resemblance to his late mother, who was believed to be dead for 28 years. When a DNA test reveals the woman is his biological mother, Caleb decides to seek answers from his father, who had lied to him about her death.

“Excuse me, Sir…I’m extremely sorry…I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll just mop up the floor in five minutes,” she said as Caleb looked up and experienced the massive shock of his life — The woman standing in front of him bore an uncanny resemblance to his late mother, who had died 28 years ago…

“Oh my God…it’s unbelievable,” Caleb gasped. “It’s okay…please come in,” he said, his gaze stalking the woman as she marched across the office. “Uh, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before…but your face looks so familiar.”

“I’m Caleb,” he said as his brows furrowed with suspicion. “Michelle, I don’t understand why I get this strange feeling when I see your face…but maybe you’re right,” he added as he reached for his cup of coffee, only to accidentally spill it on his laptop.

“Damn…not again!” Caleb leaped back.

“Don’t worry, Sir…I’ll clean it up for you,” Michelle dropped the mop and hurried to Caleb’s table to clean the mess. She rolled up her sleeves and started wiping the laptop with a cloth. That’s when Caleb’s eyes fell on a peculiar scar on her left arm.

“This scar…Ha—how did you get it?” He asked.

“Oh, this scar…? Well, you may find it strange. But I don’t remember anything that happened to me over 20 years ago. I have amnesia…I don’t even remember my name. When I saw the name ‘Michelle’ on a billboard, I adopted it as my own…and I have no memory of how I got this scar.”

Caleb’s heart started to race. “And what about your relatives…and friends?” He asked Michelle while simultaneously looking at her left arm bearing the oval-shaped burn mark.

“I don’t have anybody!” Michelle disappointedly said. “Nobody came for me all these years…Not even when I was in the hospital. I lived a gypsy life and finally found a job here in this town.”

“What? I resemble your late mother? Oh dear…really?” Michelle stopped in her tracks.

“Yes…you look a lot like my mother…she died 28 years ago, according to my Dad,” replied Caleb. “She had the exact same scar like this. I know this is gonna sound crazy. But can we go to the hospital and take a DNA test together? I don’t know why I’m even saying this…but something is bothering me. Something doesn’t seem right…And I want to find out if there are any odds….”

As they drove in Caleb’s car to the City Hospital, nothing but a deadly, grim silence prevailed between them. On the one hand, Caleb was unsettled about getting a positive result. He knew he would have to sort out a lot of things and connect so many dots if Michelle turned out to be his biological mother.

“But what if I’m just assuming things?” Caleb thought. “What if it’s just a coincidence…what if my mother is really dead…and Michelle is not my biological mother and just her lookalike?”

As Caleb drove across the bustling road and pulled over in the middle of thick traffic, he stared at Michelle in the rearview mirror, and her eyes looked eerily familiar.

Something about those eyes of hers forced Caleb to plunge into his memories. He sat back behind the wheel, recalling the fateful day he made a heartbreaking discovery about his mother while fixing the roof with his Dad, William…

“And…like this! See! You just twist the claw hammer and pull out the rotten plank!” Caleb’s Dad, William, was teaching him how to get rid of old, rotting wooden planks. They were doing minor home repairs together that Saturday afternoon.

“That was a good plank…can be used as firewood!” William said as he gathered all the worn-out planks on the lawn. Caleb was bored of these never-ending fixes his Dad taught him every weekend.

“Dad, why can’t we just hire some carpenters?” he smirked. “…and pay them to do all this stuff? It’s so tiring…and boring.”

William chuckled as he plucked another plank out. “Champ, if we pay others money for the simple things we can do on our own, then we’ll go to rags like your Uncle Dexter. Moreover, we’ll become very lazy…again, like your Uncle Dexter! Now get back to work…And start pulling out the planks from the floor in the attic. We must replace them as well.”

Curiosity got the better of Caleb as he picked it up. It was an old crumpled photograph of an unknown woman with a baby cradled in her arms.

“Weird…who is this woman in this picture? I haven’t seen her before…” wondered Caleb as he flipped the photograph and saw a signature on the back with the words: “Baby Caleb with Mommy. Happy Birthday, Sweetheart :)”

“Caleb with Mommy??” Caleb grew unsettled.

He was stunned by those words. It made no sense why his name was mentioned on the back of a stranger’s picture because, first of all, the woman in the photo did not look like his mother, Olivia. And then, she had a weird oval-shaped scar on her left arm Caleb had never seen on his mother Olivia’s arm.

Haunted by the unknown, Caleb took the photo and climbed down the attic, making his way to his Dad to find out.

“What…?” William turned around with a start.

“I found this while removing the plank in the attic…Who is she?”

Anxiety surged into William’s eyes, and his face grew ashen…as though he had seen a ghost. “Wh—Where did you get that from?” He asked, uneasiness etched all over his face.

“Dad…I asked you what this is. Who is this woman…And what does it mean by ‘Caleb with Mommy’ written on the back of this photo? Is that baby in her arms…me?” Caleb retorted.

“Come with me,” he dropped the hammer and marched to the kitchen.

Caleb hastily followed his Dad. William grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge and sat down at the dining table, anxiously tapping his fingers on the glass as he looked up at his son.

“Caleb, trust me when I say this,” William chugged a drink and said, his tone heavy with agony. “All my life…I only wished you nothing but good. I…I wanted you to be happy…wanted you to grow up into a successful man…achieve great things. I…and my wife, Olivia, we always wanted the best for you.”

Caleb was desperate to suppress the flood of tears. But his eyes betrayed him. “Your wife, Olivia? That means Olivia is not my mother?” He sadly asked.

William solemnly bowed his head. His silence answered Caleb’s question. But William found himself obliged to confess the truth that struck Caleb like a thunderbolt. “Yes, dear…Olivia is not your real mother. Your birth mother died 28 years ago…I…I’m sorry, son. I didn’t mean to—”

Caleb was paralyzed with shock by the revelation, and the truth seemed to have upturned everything he thought he knew about his mother. “How did she die?” He broke William’s silence, desperate to know more about his mother’s fate.

“A car accident…” William replied, his voice choked with grief. “It was nobody’s fault. Fate betrayed us…and your mother was destined to leave us that day. It was an unfortunate dark day in my life…one that I can never forget. You were just a baby. You needed a mother. I moved on with Olivia not because I wanted a wife. I wanted to bring you a mother.”

Caleb was shaken. But after hearing his Dad out, he took the news like a grown boy.

William clutched Caleb’s hand tight, unable to hold back his tears.

“It’s okay, Dad. Can you take me to her grave? I would like to go there,” Caleb said.

“Why, of course, dear!” William agreed with a smile. “We will go there tomorrow, alright?”

“Sure!” Caleb said and walked away as William gulped his beer and sat back.

“Well, hello, Sarah,” William said as he lit a cigarette. “Our son is here…he has come to visit you!”

Caleb knew there was no use in suppressing his emotions. So he let them pour out of his eyes. He fell to his knees and bitterly sobbed as he gingerly brushed his hands on the overgrown tombstone.

William walked away to his car, leaving his son alone at the grave. An hour passed, and Caleb still sat beside his mother’s tomb, talking to her about all things good and bad that had happened in his life in her absence.

“Goodbye, Mom,” he rose to leave. “I’m sorry again. Dad just told me about you. I’m still shocked…I’ll visit often. I promise.”

“Sir, we’re getting late. I think we should keep going,” she said.

“Oh, yes! Yes, Michelle,” Caleb replied. “I’m sorry. I was just, uhm…thinking about something. We’re almost there.”

“If you really turn out to be my mother, then that means only one thing: For 12 years, I’ve been visiting the grave of a woman I don’t even know,” Caleb thought as he hit the gas pedal and sped to the hospital.

Two minutes later, he pulled over at the hospital parking lot and hurried inside with Michelle. He rushed to a staff nurse at the reception as Michelle hastily followed him.

“Excuse me, nurse…We’d like to take a DNA maternity test immediately,” Caleb said. “I want the results as soon as possible. I’m ready to pay any additional amount. It’s urgent. I want the results today.”

Michelle pursed her lips. “I remember opening my eyes in the woods. A woodcutter said he found me floating in the river,” she recounted. “…and then a hospital…when doctors told me I had amnesia. And now, this new life!”

Caleb’s mind started haunting him. There were no fragments of her past that Michelle could recall or make peace with. At that moment, the nurse approached them and handed over a file in his hand.

“Maternity rate…99.99%!” Caleb exclaimed as he read. “That means…You are my MOTHER!”

It felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her. Michelle trembled as Caleb threw himself into her arms and cried. “You are my Mom, Michelle!” Caleb said. “But why did Dad lie to me that you died in an accident at that moment?” he pondered. “I have an idea. Come with me…” he told her as they left the hospital.

“Yes!” she replied.

“Do you remember everything I told you? You know what you’re supposed to tell him, right?” Caleb asked.

“Yes, I remember everything. Don’t worry!” Michelle replied with a confident grin and stepped out of the car. She was nervous yet mustered the courage as she walked up to the front door of William’s mansion and knocked.

The door creaked open moments later. “Good evening!” Michelle greeted William, who froze in his tracks after seeing her.

“Jennifer??” He gasped.

“What? Are you kidding me? But how is this possible?” William retorted, composing his anxiety almost immediately.

Michelle smiled. “Oh, I guess you’ve confused me with someone else,” she replied confidently. “Maybe we could’ve met before…or seen each other in the life I don’t remember! The thing is, I have amnesia. I don’t remember anything that happened to me over 20 years ago.”

“Amnesia?” William stuttered after a long, nervous pause. “Oh, maybe you’re right! I likely confused you with someone.” Michelle nodded as William looked at her from top to toe. “Never mind! You just reminded me of an old friend…Uh, I’m William, by the way.”

William extended his hand, and Michelle’s gut had already started to churn with fear. “Michelle..as I said!” She shook hands with William, and at that moment, he noticed the oval-shaped scar on her left arm. He remembered his dead wife bearing a similar scar on the same spot.

“No…this can’t be real,” William was terrified as he looked Michelle in the eye.

“Look, Michelle, I didn’t mean to offend you or something,” William said. “Sorry about my behavior. I didn’t want to sound insensitive, you know! My wife is not home now. Maybe you have something for men?”

“Oh, yeah, I do!” Michelle replied.

“Great! Hey, can you join me for a cup of coffee? I could also see what you’ve got,” William said, smiling as he invited Michelle over.

“Well, why not?!” She exclaimed and followed him inside.

“I was wondering…Michelle, how long have you been in this city?” William asked as Michelle took off her overcoat and put it on the hanger.

“Two weeks!” She replied. “I still don’t know much about this place…Oh, can I please use the restroom to wash my hands? I can’t touch the cosmetics with greasy hands, and my hands are a bit sweaty….”

“Yeah, sure! The bathroom is right there…behind you. Only two weeks?” William said, his gaze fixated on Michelle’s every move. “Well, welcome to our city! I’m sure you and your family love being around here!”

Michelle turned around and smiled. “Oh, thanks! I don’t have a family as such. I live in a small rented house south of Main Street.…one at the end of the lane. To be honest, house rents here are insane…landlords aren’t considerate about single women with amnesia!” Michelle joked as she lathered her hands with soap.

“Hey, it’s so dark in here,” she turned to William. “Do you mind if I just turn on the light?”

“Of course not!” William replied. “The switch is inside the….”

But before he could finish, he saw Michelle opening the kitchen cabinet by the door and flicking the light switch. He could not believe his eyes when he watched her do that.

“Michelle?” William said. “I must say…you have such a great intuition. None of our guests were able to locate the switch until we told them it was in the cabinet by the door!”

“Gosh, that was close!” Michelle told Caleb as she settled in her car. “Caleb, it seems to have worked! I thought I opened the wrong cabinet at first…but thank goodness I found the switch!”

“That’s great! Everything is fine,” Caleb said. “And don’t worry. I’ll be there before you reach. And yes…He is following you.”

Around 20 minutes later, Caleb pulled over several yards away from Michelle’s house. He saw Michelle stepping down from her car and walking inside. And moments later, he noticed his Dad’s car stop outside Michelle’s gate. After a momentous pause, the car turned around and sped away.

“Mom, do as I say,” Caleb called Michelle from his car. “I’ll come back in half an hour, okay? Lock all the doors. And don’t forget what I just told you…Tonight’s gonna be a game changer…and the truth will unravel itself!”

It was three o’clock in the morning. Caleb was sitting in a car he had borrowed from a friend and was quietly waiting across the road from Michelle’s house. The night was calm. The piercing shrill of crickets shattered the silence as Caleb looked around.

In the dimly lit night, William cautiously crept into the secluded backyard of Michelle’s house. He looked around. It was eerily quiet and dark, and an open window on the balcony drew his attention.

With a cautious and calculated move, William climbed the pipeline leading to the balcony and squeezed his way through the open window. As he slipped into the bedroom, the soft glow of the moonlight illuminated the silhouette of Michelle lying on the bed.

A heavy gasp escaped William’s lips as he pulled out a glimmering Bowie knife from his leather jacket and quietly approached the bedside. Aiming for the stomach and chest, William stabbed the figure several times…

With bulging, terrified eyes, he turned to the bed, only to realize he was standing in a mess of feathers and cotton. “What—No…no, it can’t be…” He gasped as he hastily lifted the blanket and discovered a chilling sight—a human effigy was under it.

“Mr. Anderson, you’re under arrest!” The Sheriff cuffed William and escorted him to the police station. In the intense interrogation room, he finally broke his silence and confessed to the spine-chilling crime he had committed 28 years ago.

As it turned out, Jennifer had found out about William’s affair with his secretary, Olivia. She wanted to file for divorce, but that was the last thing William wanted to happen to him. Afraid it would tarnish his reputation, and that he would have to pay alimony and share his property with Jennifer after the divorce, he decided to get rid of her.

When the opportunity presented itself during a picnic with his family in the woods, William pushed her off a steep cliff. He sighed with relief and immediately fled the spot after seeing her body plunge into the river below. But unfortunately, William failed to wait a little more to see Jennifer getting washed away in the current after miraculously surviving the deadly fall!

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.

Old teacher returns home on Christmas Eve and is frightened to see that her door is open and someone’s footsteps are leading to it.

After getting a college degree in education, Amanda was able to land a job at a local school not far from where she grew up, and there she remained for years, imparting knowledge on different sets of kids who passed through her class.

Amanda was very kind and took her job very seriously; if one of her students was lagging behind, she would take the time to put him or her through so his grades would not suffer.

Her teaching job gave her fulfillment and eventually a husband. The man she married, Todd, was also an educator, and they had met when she took her students to visit a museum.

Together they had a son named Jack, but twenty years later, Todd passed away from cancer, and Amanda was left to cater to their son, who was in college.

The boy was always away from home and only rarely visited or called to check up on her. In fact, the only time he seemed to remember her existence was when he needed some money.

That year was no different; Amanda had only heard from her son twice in the whole year, and Christmas was fast approaching. Before the holidays, Amanda’s school got involved in a math contest, and she was tasked with preparing her best students for it.

One day, she was in the middle of a math drill with her most brilliant student, Joan, when her son called her. “Hello mom, could you send me some money?” he asked with a whine.

“Why is that the first thing to come out of your mouth after the dry spell of not speaking to me?” she asked him, annoyed and hurt — unaware her students had their eyes on her, listening.

“What do you mean Mom? There simply isn’t anything to talk about,” he replied.

“Mom, can I have some money or not?” he asked.

“No, you can’t!” she exclaimed sternly.

“Really mom? Then I guess I’ll have to come over and take it,” he replied coolly.

“You mean you want to steal from me?” she asked.

When she received the call, Amanda had turned her back to the class for privacy, but the conversation had taken her entire focus, and she had forgotten her students were listening to the argument.

“That’s not what I mean mom, is it really stealing if it belongs to my mother?” Jack asked.

“Name it mom.”

“You have to return home to spend Christmas eve with me,” she said.

“Done,” he said without hesitation.

“I’ll be expecting you then,” she said and ended the call.

As soon as she turned around to face Joan and the other kids, it was as though life resumed again, and they all started talking and moving again.

“Sorry you had to hear that, kids,” she said by way of apology and continued with the math lessons.

For the rest of that day, Amanda was very happy. She knew her son just wanted the money, but she was still very excited he was finally visiting, which meant she would not spend Christmas alone as she used to.

The day before Christmas, she visited the grocery store to get items for her son’s favorite dish. She called him to ask if he was on his way as she left the store, but he didn’t respond.

Refusing to think negative thoughts, she walked across the parking lot to her car, and once inside, she attempted to call her child again — no answer.

“He most likely doesn’t need money anymore, that’s why he saw no need to come,” she thought, very upset.

The drive home took some 30 minutes because of the snow-covered roads. When Amanda arrived at her home, she noticed many footsteps leading into the house. It was strange, and it baffled her.

As she approached the door, she noticed that it was slightly open, so she quickly whipped her phone and dialed 911 while she opened it wider to peek inside.

“This is 911, state your emergency,” a bored voice said.

“Hello I think someone broke into my house — “Amanda started to say as she stepped into the house and turned on the lights.

The whole house was filled with her students, and they were standing there shouting “Merry Christmas!!!!” at the top of their voices. She saw many of the little children she was teaching and high schoolers and guys she taught several years ago.

Amanda was flooded with happiness and her eyes watered as she looked at everyone who had come out for her. “Thank you guys, but how did you get in?” she asked as she dabbed at her teary eyes.

At that moment, the kids parted down the middle to reveal her son, Jack, standing in the middle of the room.

“Mom, I’m very sorry for my egoistic attitude,” he said — something Amanda had never thought she’d hear.

“After the last time we spoke, these kids reached out to me to say they wanted to give you a surprise gift for Christmas, but they needed to get into the house, and I had a key which is why they chose to let me in on it.

“I do my son,” Amanda said with tears in her eyes as she walked into his arms.

After the hug, Jack gave her the gift he got her, which was a watch with a message engraved on its back — “For my lovely mom,” it read.

Her students also gave her a large box that contained a puppy — something she had always wanted, so she would no longer feel alone. From that day forward, Jack changed his attitude towards his mother, and they lived happily as a family.

What did we gain from this story?

• Reach out to family but not just because you need something. Jack essentially ignored his mom until it was time to request financial assistance, which is why she gave him a condition. Thankfully he was able to see the errors of his ways after his run-in with her students.
• Follow your passion. Amanda became a teacher because it was what she always wanted to do, and it helped her do it to the best of her abilities. Her diligence and kindness made her students love her, and eventually, that love helped bring her and her son back to great terms.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who visits her son for the first time in 12 years and sees him in a wheelchair.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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.

Barbra Streisand is celebrating 26 years of marriage with her beloved husband in the beautiful home where they solidified their relationship. Interestingly, it took 11 years for the iconic entertainer to purchase her dream home, which has housed many memories for the happy couple.

Streisand saw the home for the first time when she was living nearby. However, she could not buy it because her boyfriend at the time didn’t like it. Another factor prohibiting her from making the purchase was the fact that she was unable to afford the house at the time.

“28 years today since we met honey… and 26 years today since we married! Love you. B ❤️,” penned the “Funny Girl” star in her caption.

Streisand admitted that the house’s facade was not grand because it was a modern gray and looked like some sort of “contraption.” However, when she entered the home, she found that it had a “rustic charm.”

At that point, Streisand owned the ranch that she had been staying on, and her manager told her that until she sold the ranch, she would not be able to afford the home she had fallen in love with.

Streisand’s love for the home did not fade with time. In fact, she never stopped thinking about her dream house that she could not purchase for herself. She divulged that she felt deeply about the house.

Although, at the time, she did not buy the home, Streisand still lived on the nearby ranch and often saw the place. She also said that the couple who owned the property knew how much she loved it.

However, some years later, her luck turned around when the couple who owned the house kept her in mind as they got ready to move.

She revealed that when the old couple moved away, she bought their house with the thought that she would knock both homes down and build one big house for herself on the two-acre property.

The House Is Picture Perfect

Streisand may have waited a long time for her home, but she has made her life in that home beautiful since she moved in almost 30 years ago. She said the house paid homage to craftsmanship.

For the first few years, Streisand lived in the home with her husband, Brolin, and their dog at the time, Samantha. Unfortunately, Samantha has since passed away but left Streisand with two sweet pups.

The home sits on a large land adorned with lush green lawns. An aerial shot of the house reveals the spacious garden and the pool at the front of the mansion, facing the ocean. The driveway is at the back of the house.

To help her design the interior of her home, Streisand studied many books and drew inspiration from things she had seen while traveling that were appealing to her. She also mentioned that she loved doing it.

The actress said that designing the interior was like making a film; she had a dream and a vision for the house. She could see what would look good in her head and translated that into the space, and confirmed she was happy with the results.

Streisand’s home sits on three acres of property and consists of four buildings. The mill house, the barn, Grandma’s house, and the house that Streisand and Brolin live in are all on her property.

She then added streams into the landscape because she finds water to be a soothing element. Her reason for wanting a barn was simple; she finds them to be a staple of American culture. Interestingly, she has hens in her barn that lay green eggs.

Aside from water allowing Streisand to feel peaceful, she also has a spiritual space in her home. She finds roses ethereal and therefore finds walking through the rose garden on her property a spiritual experience.

Streisand and Brolin met in 1996 when they were 54 and 56, respectively. Each of them has children from a previous marriage and blended their families. It was two years after they met that the couple got married.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic was brutal for many people, and some relationships suffered because of being in quarantine, Streisand confirmed that she and Brolin were not negatively affected.

Even after all the years and the many trials and tribulations that the couple has faced during their time together, they are still as in love as ever and have expressed that through their social media pages. Barbra Streisand still calls Brolin the love of her life.

Streisand and Brolin have grandchildren from their adult children who they always welcome to spend time with them in their loving home.