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Lana had been dating Ashton for several months before he asked her to move in with him and share the expenses of an apartment. They split everything equally for years until Lana discovered that Ashton had lied all along.

“It’ll be great. We’re both recent graduates, so living together makes more sense. We split the bills 50-50, and both of us win,” Ashton told Lana. She wasn’t sure moving in together after eight months of dating was the best idea.

“I don’t know, Ashton. It’s a big commitment. As you said, we both just graduated from school,” Lana said hesitantly.

“Well, it’s the only we can move to the city and find jobs together. I have some money already for a deposit and everything. I’ll go find the apartment and handle all that stuff if you let me,” Ashton continued, urging Lana to say yes.

“Ok, I agree. It makes sense because living in the city has become pretty expensive. Once we find jobs, it’ll be fine,” she finally accepted.

Ashton moved to the city and found an apartment quicker than Lana expected. He set everything up, and Lana packed her stuff, moving in with him only a few weeks later. Rent was pretty reasonable, and it was better to split it down the middle.

“You can send the rent money to me. I’ll send it from my account to the landlord directly,” Ashton told her when she asked about it.

“Does it cover utilities and stuff? What about the Wi-Fi?” Lana wondered.

“How about you pay the Wi-Fi from your account?” Ashton suggested. Lana agreed immediately because Ashton had been in charge of so much, but she also wanted to be helpful.

This arrangement worked perfectly for several years until Lana wanted to stop renting and get a house with Ashton. But they needed to talk about the future before that.

“Honey, we’ve been living together for several years. Do you see us going further?” she asked one night.

“Of course, Lana. But I wasn’t sure you wanted to get married anytime soon,” Ashton said sincerely.

“Well…I’ve never been into weddings that much. We could have something simple. But I asked about it because I thought that it might be time to find a house,” Lana explained. “I’m tired of paying rent every month. I would rather use that money towards a mortgage.”

“That sounds like a great idea. But I don’t know if we’ve saved enough for a down payment,” Ashton said, suddenly hesitant.

“Oh, I know that. I have some savings, but I just wanted us to start thinking about moving forward together,” Lana finished.

“You’re right. Let’s plan it,” Ashton agreed, but whenever Lana brought the subject up again, he distracted her with other things. Maybe he doesn’t want to buy a house together or get married, Lana thought.

One day, Lana cleaned their room while Ashton went to pick up their dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. They ate there or picked up food every single Saturday since they moved in. It was a lovely little tradition.

Suddenly, Lana saw that Ashton left some of his documents in disarray in the closet. She picked them up and started arranging them in his folder. She had never seen what he kept there because that was his business.

But then she saw something with their apartment address. Was this our rental contract? Lana wondered. She got curious and looked further. But it wasn’t that kind of contract. Ashton’s name was next to the word “owner.”

She didn’t understand a lot about property deeds or titles, but the document stated that Ashton was the apartment owner. He lied to me all these years! Lana realized in horror. How did he use the money I paid towards “rent” then?”

“Honey, I’m here! The food smells amazing today!” Ashton called from the kitchen. She wanted to march into the living room and yell at him. But it was best to maintain a calm attitude first.

“What is this, Ashton? You own this apartment or condo or whatever?” Lana asked him with the documents in her hand. Ashton’s eyes flared.

“What are you doing going through my things?” he asked, trying to deflect.

“No. Don’t change the subject. This is clearly an ownership deed, and you are the owner. Tell me the truth right now!” Lana said, not managing to keep her cool in the end.

“Ok, Lana. Calm down. It’s not that bad. Yes, I’m the owner of the apartment,” Ashton started but didn’t go on.

“What about what I paid in rent?” Lana asked, exasperated.

“I used it to pay the mortgage. Ok, listen. My parents gave me money for a down payment after graduation and saw this great opportunity. But the mortgage to this place would’ve been too much from my initial paycheck,” Ashton explained.

“So, you lied all these years?” Lana asked coldly.

“Yes, but it’s not a big deal. It’s as if you rented from me,” Ashton justified.

“But a mortgage would not have been as high as rent. We ‘split’ everything in half. Was your mortgage $1,600 a month?” Lana questioned.

“Well, no. The mortgage was a little more than what you paid in rent,” Ashton admitted. “I’m sorry, Lana. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think you would agree if you knew I owned this place.”

“YOU LIED TO ME!” she yelled and started crying. “I could have saved so much money if we had actually split things in half. But no! You made me pay your entire mortgage for years! What did you do with your money?!”

“I…I saved it,” Ashton said.

“For yourself, right?! You don’t care about me at all. I’m going to talk to a lawyer! I’m going to sue you! But I’m moving out first!” Lana screamed and moved. She packed her things while Ashton begged her to stop.

“Please. I’ll send you the money. Just don’t leave. I love you. We’re getting married!” Ashton pleaded.

“Goodbye, Ashton. I don’t care what you do with your life,” Lana added. “I’ll be back for the rest of my stuff soon.”

She left and went to a hotel. Soon enough, Lana found a great apartment in the area. It was smaller than Ashton’s place, but at least, no one would lie to her. She might have threatened him with a lawsuit, but the truth is that she didn’t want anything from him. She wanted to cut ties and move on.

Ashton called and begged her to come back, but Lana refused every time. Eventually, he stopped. But one day, Lana received an alert from her bank app informing her of a deposit of thousands of dollars.

Apparently, Ashton had given her back what she could’ve saved if they really split things in the middle. It was a nice gesture, but too late. Lana was over him.

What can we learn from this story?

• Lying can destroy a relationship. While some couples might repair things after a huge lie, other people can’t tolerate it. Don’t lie to your partner.
• Ask to see documents before agreeing to big commitments. Lana didn’t ask to see their rental agreement and discovered the truth in the worst possible manner. Don’t let your partner handle everything because you never know what could happen.

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

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The nurse examined Lucy’s twins before discharge, but Lucy was shocked when she returned them. The nurse had brought two baby girls after the examination, and Lucy had given birth to one boy and one girl.

Lucy and her husband Ross had been trying to conceive for a long time, and when they discovered they were expecting twins, they were over the moon.

The ultrasound had revealed they would be having a boy and a girl, and the couple was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the twins. However, when the nurse brought the children post-examination, they were both girls. Lucy’s face turned pale.

“Where has my son gone? What exactly did you do to him? And whose baby is this other girl?” she screamed, gazing at the nurse who had just brought the kids in.

“They are your daughters, ma’am,” the nurse, Savannah, said, her eyes fixated on the documents. “I double-checked the reports and I’m confident there is no error.”

“Have you lost your senses?” Lucy snapped. “I have all the reports with me as proof that I was supposed to deliver a boy and a girl. And I was informed about the same after delivery. There’s no way they’re both girls!”

Lucy noticed the fear in the nurse’s eyes when she looked up from her reports. She was about to say something to her when Dr. Linda Carter walked in. “Would you please keep quiet, ma’am? This is a hospital, and there are other patients,” she explained to Lucy.

“Quiet? Seriously?” Lucy glared at her. “Your nurse brings me a random child, then tells me she’s not wrong! Is that how your hospital administration operates? Should I contact the chief doctor and inform him of the situation?”

“I agree with my wife, doctor. We don’t want to create a scene either,” Ross intervened. “But your nurse is lying. We don’t know why she’s doing that, but if we don’t get our son back, we’ll have to call the police!”

“Please, sir, calm down,” Dr. Carter said. “I’m sure there’s just some misunderstanding. Savannah has been working at this hospital for several years. Perhaps she brought the wrong documents. Savannah, may I have a look at the papers?” Dr. Carter inquired. But Savannah didn’t give it to her and instead started stammering, “There’s no need, ma’am…I mean, I checked it, and they’re fine.”

Dr. Carter sensed something was wrong and softly told her, “It’s fine. Let me quickly check the reports.” However, when she read through them, she realized Lucy was correct.

“Please give me a minute, ma’am,” she said as she flipped through the pages. “I assume Savannah brought the incorrect paperwork. There was another patient named Lucy Matthews, and Savannah got confused.”

“I’m glad you noticed your mistake,” Lucy said, glaring at her. “I would recommend that you hire responsible people as members of the staff the next time!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Dr. Carter apologized again as she turned to face Savannah. “Would you mind accompanying me, Savannah? I need you to find the correct reports for me.”

Savannah swiftly followed Dr. Carter, but Lucy spotted the tears in her eyes as she walked away. She got a strange feeling Dr. Carter and Savannah were up to something, so she decided to follow them.

She watched them both enter Dr. Carter’s clinic and then heard someone crying. It had to be Savannah, she reasoned. Fortunately, the door was slightly ajar, so Lucy sat on one of the chairs just outside the room and listened to what they were saying.

“What were you thinking, Savannah?” Dr. Carter spoke in a firm tone. “Lucy Matthews delivered twins: a boy and a girl at 10:30 a.m. today. Even the reports said that. Why are you lying to them? Be honest!”

“I didn’t have a choice, ma’am,” Savannah sobbed. “That other newborn girl belongs to my sister. Her spouse had abandoned her after he learned about the pregnancy, and unfortunately, she didn’t make it post-delivery. I could have adopted her, but my husband refused.”

“Why don’t you place her in a nursing home?” Dr. Carter proposed. “She’d be well taken care of there.”

“I’m afraid I can’t, ma’am. It was my sister’s last wish for her daughter to grow up in a loving home,” Savannah sobbed.

“When I saw Mrs. Matthews this morning and how she and her husband were supporting each other, I thought they would be a beautiful family for her. So I decided to swap Mrs. Matthew’s son with my sister’s daughter and place him in a nursing home instead.”

“But that’s not right, Savannah,” Dr. Carter pointed out. “We can’t let that happen. Get Mrs. Matthews’ son right now. And, yes, this should stay confidential between us. Let me see what I can do for you.”

Lucy’s eyes had welled up when she heard the story. There wasn’t a nefarious intention behind exchanging the kids. A helpless woman wanted her niece to end up in a lovely family. I feel sorry for the child, honestly. Lucy pondered as she returned to her room.

A few minutes later, Dr. Carter returned to Lucy’s room and handed over her newborn son. “Sorry about the mixup, ma’am. I apologize on behalf of my staff,” Dr. Carter said.

Having overheard the whole story earlier, Lucy, decided not to file a complaint against her. But every time she tried to sleep at home that night, her thoughts returned to the poor child, and her innocent face flashed straight in front of her eyes.

“I can’t forget about her, Ross,” Lucy told her husband at breakfast the next day. “I had a dream yesterday in which I saw a girl who had come to our house by mistake and was living peacefully with us. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I can’t get that out of my head.”

“It’s because of what happened yesterday, honey,” Ross explained. “Try to distract yourself with something else. How about we go somewhere? You’ll feel better.”

“No, Ross,” Lucy looked at him. “I don’t feel like leaving that child alone. I want to adopt her.”

“But honey!” Ross cried. “Are you sure? We already have two children to look after, and a third would be far too much! Don’t make emotional decisions! We need to be practical.”

“I understand, Ross, but please. I can’t persuade myself. I pondered it all night and decided to adopt her. Can we please go to the hospital today?”

“Well, honey. I am there with you in all your decisions, but I’m worried it’ll be too much work for you.”

“I can manage that, Ross. Please?” Lucy insisted.

Ross initially opposed the adoption, but his feelings changed when he held the child in his arms. She had brown eyes with a slight green tinge, and she kept staring at him. Ross was moved by her innocent looks, to say the least.

“I’m delighted you considered adopting her, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. She is indeed lucky,” the doctor told them.

“Well, doctor, we tried a lot for kids, and now, when a child wants to come to us, we can’t just let it go. Just let me know when we can take her home,” Lucy said.

“It’ll take some time, but for now, I’ll submit the documents to expedite the process.”

As the doctor had said, it took some time, but Lucy and Ross had no regrets about their decision. When they brought the child home, they felt as if their family was finally complete. They named the baby girl Amelia.

Savannah visited them after learning Lucy and Ross had adopted the child and couldn’t stop thanking them. Since then, she’s become a regular at the Matthews’, and she mostly spends the weekends with Lucy’s kids: the twins Sia and Mark and Amelia.

What can we learn from this story?

• Relationships are formed through love and care, not necessarily by blood. Lucy and Ross’s adoption of Amelia as their kid is a beautiful example of this.
• Some accidents are beautiful. Savannah brought Amelia to Lucy simply because she wanted her to be adopted by a good family, and in the end, the poor child was blessed with a lovely family.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a woman who mocks her grandmother for her gift but is stunned when it cracks open.

He saw a girl begging on the sidewalk and somehow couldn’t get her face out of his mind. He had to know her story.

Wealthy businessman Roger Landers was often annoyed by the sight of the homeless begging on the street outside his office building. There seemed to be more and more of them each year, he reflected.

As he passed a young woman huddled against a wall, a kindly soul dropped a coin in her cup. The woman looked up and smiled at her benefactor and that smile pierced Roger to the heart. In one second, that huddled anonymous annoyance became a lovely radiant woman.

Roger walked into the building and that moment when the girl’s face was transformed by her smile replayed over and over in his mind. He found himself wondering who she was, what had driven her to live in the pitiless streets of L.A.?

For the rest of the week, Roger found himself almost obsessed by the young homeless woman. He watched her surreptitiously, and once when he dropped a coin in her cup, watched that miraculous transformation at close quarters.

Love can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places.

He found himself thinking about her, inventing stories about her, little fantasies in which he discovered she was really a reporter writing about homelessness at close hand, or a deeply committed actress preparing for a role…

Finally, on Friday afternoon, after he wrapped his work for the day and dismissed his employees, Roger did what he’d been longing to do all week. He walked up to the girl sitting on the sidewalk and talked to her.

“Hi,” he said awkwardly. “Would it be okay if I bought you a cup of coffee? You look really cold.” The girl lifted up her face and smiled at him.

“Thank you,” she said sweetly. “I’d like that.” Roger was struck by her low educated voice and her grace as she got to her feet. She was tiny, he realized, a petite 5′ 3″ next to his towering 6′ 2″.

He walked her to a nearby coffee shop and ordered her hot food to go with her coffee. Once again Roger was surprised by her delicate gestures, her manners. This was an educated girl. How had she ended up on the streets?

When Roger saw color flood back into the girl’s face after she finished her hot soup, her grilled sandwich, and her coffee, he asked her exactly that. “How did this happen to you? Living on the streets?”

The girl looked him straight in the eye. A wry smile twisted her lips. “I was stupid, and trusting,” she said. “It’s not an original story. I was in love with this boy in my hometown — Idaho — if you can believe it.

“My parents disapproved of him, which only made him even more romantic and attractive to me… To cut a long story short, he convinced me to withdraw my college funds and run away with him to L.A. He was going to be a movie star, and I’d be a screenwriter…”

Roger shook his head sadly. “A lot of people come out here every year, less than a handful make it!” he commented.

“Well, I’ll never know.” A tinge of bitterness colored the girl’s voice. “The first night in L.A., we booked into a motel. When I woke up in the morning Kevin was gone, so was my money and everything I had.”

Roger gasped. “Did you go to the police? Call your family?” The girl was shaking her head, tears in her eyes.

“I was too ashamed. I made a deal with the motel manager. She let me sleep in the storeroom and I cleaned the rooms. Some of the guests gave me tips, and I managed to eat. But then her husband started trying…” The girl shook her head. “You know how it is. I left the motel and ended up here, on the streets.”

“What’s your name?” Roger asked gently.

“Emma,” the girl said with one of those radiant smiles. “Emma Sinclair from Preston, Idaho!”

“Well, Emma Sinclair from Preston, Idaho,” Roger smiled back. “I’m Roger Landers from Los Angeles, California, and I’m sending you home.”

Roger took Emma into a nearby mall and he bought her several outfits and a suitcase. He waited at the food court while she changed and came out of the restroom transformed.

He drove her to the bus station and bought her a bus ticket home. He tucked a $100 bill in her hand. “Listen,” he said. “Don’t let any more charming rascals talk you into coming to L.A., OK?”

Emma was crying and smiling through her tears. She reached up and gave Roger a hug. “Thank you, thank you, and God bless you!”

Roger watched her board the bus with a sinking feeling in his heart. Why did he feel that this was a mistake? He wanted to run after that bus, beg Emma to stay… What was happening to him?

That night, Roger realized that the petite waif with the glowing smile had stolen his heart. “If I let her go, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life!” he told himself. “She’s special, and I love her.”

Two days later, Roger was driving into Preston, Idaho. He stopped at the police station and asked where he could find Emma Sinclair. “Emma?” asked one of the deputies suspiciously. “What do you want with Emma?”

Roger blushed. “Well, you see, I met her in LA, and I wanted to see if she was alright…”

The deputy looked him up and down. “You can find Emma at her mom’s laundromat, two doors down. I’m coming with you. I don’t want any more trouble for Emma!”

Roger’s heart was beating fast as he walked into the laundromat and saw Emma. She looked up and her face lit up. At that moment, Roger knew she had been feeling the same way: they belonged together!

So just three weeks after she returned home, Emma headed back to LA once again, but this time she was with a man who loved and cherished her. By the end of the year, Roger and Emma were married, and she became involved in a program to help runaways find their way home.

What can we learn from this story?

• Helping others can be a transformative experience. Roger helped Emma, and in the process, he found his own way to life-long happiness.
• Love can sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places. Roger found love with a homeless waif when everyone expected him to marry a socialite.

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

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The Mexican pitching legend who ignited “Fernandomania” in the 1980s died just weeks after stepping away from his role as a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fernando Valenzuela, the legendary pitcher and one of the most iconic figures in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, has died at 63.

The MLB Network confirmed Valenzuela’s passing on Tuesday, October 22, on X, formerly Twitter while the Los Angeles Dodgers mourned the loss of their former teammate. His death comes just weeks after he took a break from his role in the Dodgers’ broadcast booth.

In a statement shared on X on October 3, the LA Dodgers explained that Valenzuela stepped away from his broadcasting duties to focus on his health and that his family had requested privacy. They also said he planned to return for the 2025 season.

Before Valenzuela stepped away from his broadcasting duties, reports surfaced about his hospitalization. On October 1, Mexican reporter David Faitelson shared on X that Valenzuela had been admitted to a hospital. He noted that little was known about Valenzuela’s condition, as the family chose to keep the details private.

When news of Valenzuela’s death spread online, fans began gathering at Dodger Stadium to honor his memory and celebrate his legacy. Many left flowers, jerseys, candles, and Mexican flags at the stadium’s entrance on Vin Scully Avenue.

Rey Casillas, 58, one of the fans who paid respects to Valenzuela, spoke about the late icon’s impact. He said Valenzuela wasn’t just a baseball player; he brought people together and revitalized the culture in 1981, especially in the Dodger Stadium and Chavez Ravine area.

Casillas called Valenzuela a “once in a lifetime” figure, comparing him to Shohei Ohtani for his ability to attract a huge fan base. He also said Los Angeles should feel proud of Valenzuela’s influence on baseball and how he represented the Dodgers.

Besides the fans, Mexican-American actor Mario Lopez, a well-known Dodgers supporter, expressed his grief on social media, “63 is way too young….”

Lopez shared that Valenzuela was the reason he became a Dodgers fan, admiring his major accomplishments at just 18. He described the late icon as both a great player and a community leader.

Valenzuela’s rise to fame began when he was signed by the Dodgers in 1979, after being discovered by scout Mike Brito in his hometown of Navajoa, Mexico.

He shot to fame in 1981, earning both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards. He also led the Dodgers to a World Series victory.

Known for his unique pitching style, Valenzuela captured the hearts of fans in Los Angeles and around the world, giving rise to the phenomenon known as “Fernandomania.”

Over the years, Valenzuela’s influence extended beyond the field, as he continued to make a lasting impact in the U.S. In 2015, he became a U.S. citizen, a milestone he kept private.

Jaime Jarrín, the Dodgers’ longtime Spanish-language broadcaster who worked alongside Valenzuela for over a decade, noted, “He likes his privacy very much. He takes care of that privacy very well.”

Former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley expressed pride in Valenzuela’s connection to the country while highlighting his strong ties to Mexico. “He’s lived here and raised his family here and enjoyed living here. He’s proud, and I salute him for it,” said O’Malley.

In August 2023, the Dodgers officially retired Valenzuela’s No. 34 jersey, cementing his legacy as a cultural icon. At the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude, “It never crossed my mind that this would ever happen.”

He continued, “Like being in the World Series my rookie year, I never thought that would happen. I didn’t think this would happen, because first of all you have to be in Cooperstown. It really caught me by surprise. It’s hard to put into words what this means.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also paid tribute to Valenzuela’s enduring influence, “Fernando’s legacy, his impact, is going to last forever.” He emphasized how the Mexican athlete’s rise was a “perfect storm” for the city of Los Angeles and its Latino community, noting that “Fernandomania” might never be replicated.

Valenzuela’s influence extended beyond the field, inspiring countless Latino players and fans. He will be remembered as a true legend in the sport.

I’ve been with my fiancé for six years, and we were supposed to get married next month. But during a visit to my parents, he discovered their secret lifestyle, causing him to question our relationship too.

I’ve been with my fiancé for six years, but we’ve known each other for nine. We were supposed to get married next month, but then everything changed the course of our wedding journey.

We went to visit my parents to introduce him to more of my extended family before the wedding. My parents offered to host us, and we’ve been staying in my old room for the sake of nostalgia.

Ellie was in tears when she couldn’t dress up for Halloween one school year. No one cared except one kind teacher, who was about to take a bigger place in her heart and her life.

It was Ellie’s favorite school day of the year, yet she hoped nobody would spot her.

The school auditorium was bustling with children dressed in different shapes and colors of spook and wonder. Some walked in as princes and princesses, some glided in as vampires and superheroes, and some made dramatic entrances as astronauts and historical figures.

But one little girl walked in with slumped shoulders, hiding her face and hoping nobody would notice her grey pants and white T-shirt.

Ellie wanted to dress up as a princess that year. “Your costume will turn a lot of heads, I promise!” Ellie’s dad had assured her a few months earlier. But you know how busy dads are and how they sometimes forget the small important stuff while handling the big important stuff.

So when Ellie’s dad forgot to save up for her princess costume for the school Halloween party that year, she wasn’t mad at him. But she couldn’t keep her nervous tears back when the mean kids from her class started mocking her.

“What are you supposed to be dressed as? Ugly Ellie?” one of the boys chuckled and held up the end of Ellie’s ponytail with an expression of disgust on his face.

Ellie covered her ears and cried as she heard the kids chanting her latest nickname and laughing wickedly. Every face around her was unkind and indifferent to her sadness except one.

“Psst! Ellie!” an older voice whispered to her. It was Mr. Borges, her art teacher. He was trying to tell her something. The girl wiped her tears and managed to escape the crowd of children and walk past them, closely following her favorite teacher.

“Wait here!” Mr. Borges said and walked into the cramped up supply closet. A few seconds later, he was back, and Ellie couldn’t help but wonder why the man was holding a few rolls of toilet paper.

“What’s that for?” Ellie asked, scratching her head.

“This? It’s for your Halloween costume. And it’s going to be the best Halloween costume ever!” Mr. Borges seemed as excited as a child.

Ellie stood clueless and as still as a statue. At the same time, her teacher began wrapping the toilet paper around her waist and upwards towards her neck, ensuring she was comfortable every few seconds. Then he began wrapping the toilet paper around her belly, legs, and arms, down to the little fingers and toes.

“Woah, Mr. Borges!” Ellie was finally starting to figure out the brilliant costume idea. “I look like a—”

“Hold on now. Keep your head straight. There’s one final part…” the man said and wrapped the last few rolls of tissue around and across her face, leaving just enough room for her eyes, nose, and lips.

“NOW…” Mr. Borges said, leaving random red blots of ink randomly around the wrapped tissue roll, “it’s ready!”

A teacher’s influence lasts a lifetime.

When Ellie saw herself in the mirror, she couldn’t stop jumping up and down, clapping her papery hands with sheer joy. “I love it! I love it, Mr. Borges. Thank you!”

Ellie hugged her hero and placed a tiny kiss on his cheek.

When she again walked into the crowd of excited children, they covered their mocking mouths in awe.

To Mr. Borges, it may have just been a creative way to put a smile on a sad child’s face, but to Ellie, it meant everything! Nobody in school had ever done something that nice for her. In a place where she had only been mocked or ignored, Mr. Borges became the first person to notice her and help her out.

And Ellie would do everything she could to stay close to this kind adult, Mr. Borges. She took more interest in art; over the years, it proved therapeutic for her troubled heart.

Mr. Borges, too, went out of his way to be there for the little girl who had no one but a father who was constantly ill. Mr. Borges was the confidant who listened to Ellie’s deepest fears and biggest dreams.

And when Ellie’s beloved father passed away after a long and arduous battle with an illness, Mr. Borges was the only man who could stop the orphaned girl’s screams and tears at the funeral.

Holding the poor girl’s hand, he made a promise to her father’s departed soul: “She will have everything you wanted for her. I promise!”

Nobody knew this about Mr. Borges, but he had lived through terrible tragedies himself. After losing the woman he loved while she was pregnant, he never found the courage to dream of having a family ever again.

“My little daughter would have been just like her!” Mr. Borges often thought to himself as he watched Ellie laugh and cry.

Taking care of Ellie was more than just a promise he had to fulfill; it was a goal that brought the tired man alive with purpose, joy, and childlike eagerness.

Ellie lived with her grandmother and was officially under her care. But, it was Mr. Borges who took the place of her guardian, her father figure, her hero.

Years passed, and with the undying love and support of Mr. Borges, Ellie passed grade after grade, excelled through high school, and won a scholarship to attend one of the best colleges in the country.

It had been seven years since that tearful farewell when Mr. Borges waved to Ellie as she embarked on an exciting journey to a new city and a new life as a university student…

“I wonder if she’s doing alright…” Mr. Borges sat alone in his house in front of a forgotten cup of coffee.

He often thought of Ellie and regretted not doing his part in keeping in touch with her. “Does she remember me…?” he wondered that day when he heard a knock on the door and found a box on his doorstep.

He opened it and found a neatly packed, expensive-looking three-piece suit. “Someone got the wrong house,” the man thought and began to repack the suit when an envelope fell out of its pocket.

It was an elegantly designed wedding invitation, and the bride’s name left him astonished. “Ellie, that little girl who wouldn’t leave my hand, is getting married! She’s grown so big!” the older man thought, tears rising in his eyes.

But that wasn’t all. A note was stuck at the back of the invitation card, and Mr. Borges immediately recognized Ellie’s beautiful cursive handwriting.

“Dear Mr. Borges,

Fifteen years ago, you helped a scared and hurt little girl feel happy and confident.

If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have worn that awesome mummy Halloween costume everyone was jealous of. And if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t dream of being the confident and happy young woman wearing a pretty wedding gown to tie the knot a few weeks from now, either.

When I thought I had no one, you went from being like my best friend, my guardian angel, to my father figure.

You will always be a father to me, Mr. Borges. And so, it would mean the world if you could walk me down the aisle and give me away on my special day.”

Tears rolled down the man’s cheeks that day and on the day when he gave Ellie away to the man she loved.

And beyond the blessing of being like a father to Ellie, Mr. Borges also got to be a grandfather to her children a few years later. He and Ellie remained devoted to each other’s happiness and well-being as father and daughter for as long as they lived.

What can we learn from this story?

Never forget the kind hearts that lifted you up. Ellie never forgot how Mr. Borges had helped her with a Halloween costume when she was little and how he was by her side throughout her growing years.

A teacher’s influence lasts a lifetime. Ellie was only little when Mr. Borges first helped her. We, too, have teachers who made a place in our hearts through their small and big gestures of kindness toward us.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a little orphaned girl who finds a sweet surprise on Father’s Day, thanks to her kind-hearted teacher.

Falling in love at 47 was something I never saw coming, especially after the heartbreak of my first marriage. Now, as I prepare to marry John, my teenage daughter, Emilia, is struggling to accept him. Balancing my love for John and my bond with Emilia, I’m faced with difficult choices and unspoken fears.

I never could have imagined that at 47, I would fall in love again, or that I would ever want a relationship after my failed first marriage, which ended 12 years ago.

For a long time, I thought I was done with love. My ex-husband had been horrible to me. He constantly nagged, telling me I wasn’t doing enough around the house, even though I worked just as much as he did.

His words cut deep, especially when he made fun of me for gaining weight after my pregnancy. He didn’t care how hard I was trying or how much I juggled. I knew he was cheating, but I forgave him every time.

I told myself it was for the sake of our family, for our daughter. But when my then 4-year-old Emilia saw him with another woman, something broke inside me. That was the final straw. I couldn’t live like that anymore.

The only good thing from that marriage is Emilia. She’s my everything—the best thing that ever happened to me. We’ve always been close.

For so long, it was just her and me, like a team against the world. I never thought I needed anyone else until a year ago when John came into my life.

John was different. He made me feel loved and cared for in ways I hadn’t felt in years. He treated Emilia with kindness, like she was his own daughter. Watching the two of them together gave me hope. I started to believe that maybe, just maybe, John could be the father Emilia never had.

But everything changed after he proposed. Suddenly, Emilia wasn’t the same. She argued with John, with me, and left the house every time he came over. I didn’t understand it, and it broke my heart.

One evening, I sat in the kitchen with John, staring down at my cup of tea. I sighed, feeling the weight of everything. “I don’t know what to do,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

John looked at me, concerned. “Maybe we should start meeting at my place instead?” he suggested.

I shook my head. “We’re getting married soon. What are we supposed to do, live apart then too?” I sighed again, feeling even more frustrated. “I don’t understand why she’s acting like this.”

John leaned back in his chair, thinking. “She’s jealous, Lucy. It’s been just you and her for so long. Now, you’ve got someone else in your life. Someone who’s taking up your time and love.”

“I guess,” I said. “But you two were fine before. She liked you.”

“That was different,” he replied calmly. “Back then, I was just your boyfriend. Now I’m going to be your husband and her stepfather. That’s a big change for her.”

I nodded slowly. “You’re right. But I still don’t know what to do.”

John reached for my hand. “Talk to her,” he said softly.

I snorted, trying to hide my nerves. “Talk to a teenage girl? That’s like walking into a fire.”

John smiled. “No, talk to your daughter. She needs you.” I leaned my head on his shoulder, wishing I had the answers.

The next day, I knew I had to talk to Emilia. I stood outside her door for a moment before knocking. “Come in,” she said, sounding annoyed. I could almost hear her eyes rolling.

I stepped inside, feeling nervous, and sat down on the edge of her bed. She looked at me, waiting for me to speak. “I wanted to talk to you,” I said.

Emilia raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“I know it’s probably hard for you, with John becoming part of our family,” I said, trying to meet her gaze.

She shrugged. “It’s not hard. John’s fine.”

“Then why do you leave every time he comes over?” I asked, keeping my voice calm. “And why do you argue with him?”

“Just because,” she muttered.

I took a deep breath. “Look, just because I love John doesn’t mean I’ll love you any less. You’re my daughter, and—”

She cut me off, her voice rising. “I don’t believe that!” she shouted. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I have homework.”

Her words stung, but I stood up slowly. “Alright. But if you ever want to talk, you can always come to me. It’s still you and me against the world, remember?”

Emilia didn’t respond. I looked at her for a moment, hoping for something, but she stayed silent. With a heavy heart, I left the room.

As the wedding day got closer, Emilia’s behavior only got worse. Every decision John and I made, she had a problem with. If we liked a caterer, she’d complain about the menu.

It wasn’t until we chose the one she recommended that the complaints stopped. Picking out my wedding dress became a two-week ordeal, and she insisted on making my bouquet herself.

I thought it was her way of staying involved, but each time she demanded something to be changed, I could feel the tension growing. She had her own dress altered seven times, and John quietly paid for each adjustment.

It wasn’t just the wedding preparations that were exhausting—it was seeing how much pain she was in. I knew she was struggling, but I didn’t know how to help. Her anger felt like a wall between us, and every day, it seemed to grow taller.

“Maybe we should cancel the wedding,” I said to John one evening, my voice soft.

John looked at me, surprised. “What? Did I do something wrong?” he asked, concerned.

“No, you’re perfect,” I reassured him. “I love you, and that hasn’t changed. It’s just Emilia…”

John nodded, understanding. “This is really hard for her,” he said, confirming what I had feared all along.

“Yes,” I admitted, finally saying the words out loud. “I thought maybe if we just kept dating, she would come around. She might accept it better if we didn’t rush.”

John took a deep breath and said, “Lucy, I’ll support you no matter what. But this is your life, not Emilia’s. In two years, she’ll be in college, living her own life.”

“I know,” I replied, my chest tightening. “But it hurts to see her struggling like this.”

John reached for my hand. “You’re not alone in this. I’m here for both of you. We’ll figure it out together. I just want to make you both happy.”

Then he paused as if considering something. “Actually, I’ve been thinking… I’d like to adopt Emilia. If she’s willing, of course. I already see her as my daughter.”

Tears filled my eyes as I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly. Somewhere in the hallway, I heard a small noise, but I didn’t pay it much attention. Right now, I was focused on the love and support I had right in front of me.

The wedding day had finally come, and I felt both excited and nervous. I prayed to every god I could think of, hoping everything would go smoothly. But it seemed my prayers went unheard. Just minutes before the ceremony, my friend Kyra hurried into the room, looking worried.

“Lucy, we have a problem,” she said, her voice tense. My heart sank instantly. “Emilia hasn’t shown up yet.”

“What do you mean, she hasn’t shown up?” I asked, feeling my chest tighten.

“I don’t know,” Kyra said. “She’s not answering her phone or replying to texts.”

Panic rushed through me. I didn’t even think before I bolted out of the room to find John. When I saw him, I blurted out, “Emilia’s gone. She’s disappeared.”

John stayed calm. “Go find her,” he said with a small smile.

“But the ceremony starts in twenty minutes,” I said, unsure.

“Go,” he repeated, his voice gentle. “This wedding won’t mean anything if Emilia isn’t there.”

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight. In that moment, I knew—once again—that I had chosen the right man.

I had a feeling I knew where Emilia might be. My heart raced as I drove to the old playground we used to visit when she was younger. Sure enough, when I arrived, I spotted her sitting on one of the swings, her head down, gently swaying back and forth. Relief washed over me.

“Hey,” I said as I approached her, trying to keep my voice steady.

Emilia looked up at me, her eyes red and filled with tears. “Mom? What are you doing here? Isn’t your wedding starting soon?”

I sat down on the swing next to her and shook my head. “The ceremony doesn’t matter without you,” I said.

She wiped her eyes and asked, “How did John take it? Did he leave you?”

“No, he didn’t leave,” I assured her. “He’s the one who sent me to find you. He told me the same thing I just told you—the ceremony won’t mean anything if you’re not there.”

Emilia blinked, surprised. “Really? He said that?”

I nodded. “What’s going on, Emilia? Why are you trying to stop the wedding? I thought you liked John.”

“It’s not that,” she muttered. “It’s… it’s just that it’s always been you and me. I thought it would always stay that way. What if he leaves us like Dad did? I couldn’t handle that again.”

Hearing her say that made my heart ache. “So that’s what this is about? You’re testing John?”

She sighed, her voice small. “Not on purpose… but maybe.”

I reached over and took her hand. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to protect me. I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you. And trust me, John isn’t going anywhere. He loves both of us. He even told me he wants to adopt you.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I overheard you two talking about it. That’s why I’m not at the ceremony right now. What if I let him in, and then he just… leaves? I’m scared, Mom.”

I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. “Oh, baby. I’m scared too. But love is about taking risks. We don’t know the future, but we choose love because it’s worth it.”

She rested her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know if I’m ready…”

“I get it,” I said softly. “But no matter what, you’ll always have me. No one, not even John, can change that. You and I? We’ve been a team from the start.”

Emilia let out a small laugh. “But now John’s part of the team too…”

I smiled and squeezed her hand. “It’s easier to fight with three of us, don’t you think?”

She nodded, smiling a little. “I guess so.”

“Do you trust me?” I asked, looking her in the eyes. She nodded.

“And I trust John. Can you trust my trust?”

After a moment, she nodded again. “Yes.”

I stood up, holding out my hand. “Then let’s go. I’m late to my own wedding,” I said with a wink.

Emilia took my hand, standing up beside me. We shared a tight hug, knowing that no matter what, we would always have each other.

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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: On Halloween night, I thought I’d just be handing out candy and watching teenagers play pranks near the cemetery. But when I looked out the window, I saw something I could never have expected—a baby, alone in a car seat by one of the graves. I rushed outside, my heart racing, unsure of what to do next. Read the full story here.