Author: Emily Nguyen Le
They say miracles come when you least expect them. But as I sat in the park, drowsy from another failed fertility treatment, I never imagined waking up with a newborn baby in my arms and a note in her tiny hands that would shatter my world into a million pieces. For illustration purposes only Some days change your life forever. For me, it was an ordinary Tuesday in September when my world turned upside down. I’m Grace, 35 years old, and for eight years, my husband Joshua and I have tried desperately to have a child. We’ve endured countless treatments,…
Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in April 2024. A dog might suffer greatly from spending a prolonged amount of time in a shelter. After months of rejection, many shelters witness dogs who were once joyful and full of hope lose their spirits. Major, an Indiana shelter dog, is one example of this; he has been crying nonstop for more than 260 days after his former owners rejected him. However, his pals at the shelter continue to hope that he will find the ideal family someday. Major, a four-year-old mixed terrier and pitbull, is under…
Sveta watched with mild envy as parents picked up their children to go home. “Misha, don’t cry, we will come back here tomorrow,” one of the moms reassured. “Kolenka, dad is waiting for us at home. Let’s go quickly,” another hurried. “Katyusha, the sand won’t disappear. We’ll play again tomorrow and then we’ll bake some pies,” added a third. For illustration purposes only Sveta avoided getting too close to the playground. First, she was almost eight years old, maybe even eight already, and she felt older than the other children. Secondly, she once managed to join in the children’s games.…
What happens when an ideal honeymoon doesn’t live up to expectations? A surprising call from my stepdaughter led to an eye-opening lesson in appreciation—one she never saw coming. Life has a funny way of catching you off guard, usually when you least expect it. Becoming a stepmother at 45 was never part of my plan, especially not to someone like Brooke. When I married Gary a decade ago, I wasn’t just committing to him—I was embracing the idea of family as well. For illustration purposes only Brooke was thirteen then, and while we didn’t always see eye to eye, I…
My wife Megan poured her heart into our family’s monthly dinners, but all she got in return were cruel comments from my relatives. After witnessing her tears one too many times, I set up a secret test to expose the real reason behind their relentless criticism. What I found out left me heartbroken. Our family has a long-standing tradition of hosting monthly dinners, a custom that dates back to when my dad was a kid. My grandmother started it all by bringing her siblings together over meals, which strengthened their bond. For illustration purposes only As Dad and his siblings…
Sometimes, fate delivers such surprises that you spend your entire life marveling at how it all turned out. I still remember that chilly October day when I was returning from the market in the neighboring village. Back then, buses were rare, and I had to walk, cursing the broken road and the heavy bags of potatoes under my breath. For illustration purposes only At forty-two, I lived alone, if you don’t count a ginger cat named Oliver, who honestly looked more like a small pillow with a cheeky face. After my divorce, neither my personal life nor my relationship with…
As I sit at my desk one afternoon, I receive an unexpected delivery. When I opened the box, I found a cake with an unsettling message and the pregnancy test I forgot to hide. For illustrative purposes only | Source: Midjourney I was at my desk, half-typing an email, half-daydreaming about what to make for dinner when the office delivery guy appeared at my office door. He held a bright pink bakery box in his hands, grinning from ear to ear like he was in on some inside joke I didn’t know about. “Good afternoon, Emma!” he said enthusiastically. “This…
A mother with four children was worn out from handling all the housework, even though she worked more hours than her husband. She kept asking her kids and husband for assistance, but they often ignored her requests. In the end, she decided to take action and showed them the consequences of neglecting their chores. I’m Sarah, and my days are filled with real estate transactions and family duties. My spouse, Mark, is employed at a shipyard, and together we manage raising our four children: the 13-year-old twins Emma and Ethan, 12-year-old Lily, and our 8-month-old baby, Mia. Both of us…
Despite being a struggling single mom, I had to help the elderly woman I found out in the cold on Christmas Eve. I never imagined that my simple act of kindness would lead to a mysterious luxury SUV at my door — or heal my broken heart. I pulled my threadbare coat tighter around me as I trudged home through the thickest snow I’d seen in years. I was bone-tired from scrubbing floors in the Grayson mansion, but I was almost home. But I couldn’t complain. My job was hard, but the Graysons were kind enough for rich folk. Besides,…
After my son convinced me to live in a nursing home, I wrote letters to him daily telling him I missed him. He never replied to any of them until one day, a stranger shared why and came to take me home. When I turned 81, I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, which made it difficult for me to move around without assistance. My condition also made it difficult for my son Tyler and his wife Macy to take care of me, so they decided to move me to a nursing home. “We can’t be tending to you the entire day,…