I Became a Burden to My Father after I Lost the Ability to Walk – Story of the Day
I was paralyzed and trapped in a wheelchair in an accident, and my father refused to be burdened with me. But then he gets taught an important lesson.
I was 19 when I was run over by a car on my way to work. For me, it was the end of the world: a screech of tires, darkness, and pain. And when I woke up, I heard the voices say I’d never walk again.
I kept asking for my father, but he only showed up three days later, looking the worse for the wear and I knew he’d been on a bender while I’d lain there fighting for my life.
She was injured in a horrible accident | Source: Shutterstock.com
My mother died when I was 12, a victim of breast cancer. I remember her as a sweet, weary woman, always cringing from my father’s cruel words, working to keep food on the table while he drank his paycheck away.
As soon as I turned 14, he ordered me to find a part-time job to help with the bills, and when I was 16, I dropped out of school and started working full time to support myself — and him.
But when my father finally arrived at the hospital to visit me, there was neither compassion nor gratitude in his eyes. The doctor explained that although my spine was not severed there had been severe bruising and compression.
I might — by a long shot — recover my ability to walk, but most likely, I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. And that was when my father walked away. He said to the doctor, “She’s over 18, isn’t she? She’s an adult, right? So she’s not my responsibility anymore. You take her.”
My father was an alcoholic | Source: Unsplash
I remember my doctor’s horrified expression and my father’s gaze sweeping over my limp legs. “Useless! Useless like your mother!”
Those were the last words I’d hear from him for the next six years. A little while later I was transferred to a recovery center where I was lucky enough to be assigned to a therapist named Carol Hanson.
Family is built on love, not a biological bond, or shared DNA.
She was an older, motherly woman who immediately took me under her wing. Carol was as loving as she was demanding, and she was very demanding. Over the next year, she pushed me towards a recovery I’d never dreamed possible.
The day I stood on my own two feet and took my first step, I cried like a baby, and so did Carol. It was only the beginning, and the next few months I worked even harder, but finally was pronounced healthy.
I woke to discover I was paralyzed | Source: Unsplash
It was a bittersweet moment for me. I was healed from my injury and I was walking again, but I was terrified. I had nowhere to go, no family. I was all alone in the world.
Carol walked in and found me crying. She sat beside me on the bed and put her arms around me. “Jenny,” she said to me, “it’s all right to be scared. You’re starting your life again.”
“I have no one, and nowhere to go,” I whispered, remembering other patients leaving surrounded by loving family, “I’m alone.”
“No you’re not,” Carol said firmly, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Would you like to move in with me? Just until you get your life together again…”
I was stuck in a wheelchair | Source: Unsplash
So I did, and it was lovely. Carol and I got on beautifully, and she gave me my own room, a pretty room, the prettiest I’d ever seen. “It was my daughter’s,” Carol explained with tears in her eyes. “I lost her like you lost your mother.”
I started googling for jobs the next day on Carol’s computer, but when I came down to breakfast there were some informative flyers on the table from the local high school announcing night classes for adults wanting to complete their secondary education.
“I think,” said Carol firmly, “that you need to go back to school so you can go back to college.”
My mouth dropped open. “College? I can’t afford college!” I gasped. “Carol, I don’t have a cent to my name and no way to support myself if I don’t get a job, and quickly.”
The physiotherapist helped me heal | Source: Pexels
Carol shook her head: “No, Jenny, you can’t afford NOT to go to college. Listen, I will lend you the money, and when you graduate, you pay me back — just like a student loan with a bank.”
Anyway, she talked me into it, and I quickly completed the high school certification I needed and applied to the local college. I’ll admit Carol’s example inspired me to become a nurse, and four years later, I graduated summa cum laude.
I started working at a local hospital and ended up specializing in neo-natal care. One day, a TV crew came in to do a news story on a set of identical triplets and ended up interviewing me.
For a while, I was a bit of a celebrity, but the attention brought me an unwanted visitor. The doorbell rang and when I opened it, I was stunned to see my father standing there.
I became a nurse | Source: Pixabay
He looked terrible, like a bum, and he reeked of alcohol and sweat. “Jenny, my sweet baby girl!” he cried, reaching out his hands. “I’ve finally found you again.”
“Found me again?” I asked sharply, “You abandoned me in the hospital because I was useless, remember, like my mother?”
He squeezed out a few tears. “Oh my baby,” he sobbed. “Forgive me, I was frightened and in shock… You won’t turn your dad away now, would you? I haven’t been well…”
“You look fine to me,” I told him coldly, but my trained eye had already noted the yellow tinge to his skin and eyes. He had some kind of liver disorder, probably due to his drinking.
An unexpected visitor | Source: Pixabay
He shuffled forward. “I’m sick, Jenny, daddy really needs you…And…” he licked his lips thirstily. “And I’m broke, baby, no money for food…You’re not going to let your daddy go hungry, are you?”
“Like you left me to my fate? Helpless in a wheelchair? Guess what ‘DADDY,’ I am. Get out.” I slammed the door in his face and walked back into the lounge.
Carol looked up at me and smiled. “Who was that, Jenny?”
“Oh, just some man selling something!” I went to the sofa, sat down beside Carol, and hugged her fiercely. Carol hugged me back.
Carol adopted me | Source: Pexels
“Jenny,” she said, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. Would you allow me to adopt you? Become your mother? Because in my heart you already are my daughter.”
I started crying and I just couldn’t stop. I had been cursed with a terrible childhood, and now as an adult, I had been lucky enough to find a loving home and a parent who cherished me.
What can we learn from this story?
1. Family is built on love, not a biological bond, or shared DNA.
2. What you give is what you get, as Jenny’s father discovered.
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 beautiful socialite who humiliates an old friend and ends up regretting it.
This account is inspired by our reader’s story but written by a professional writer. All names have been changed to protect identities and ensure privacy. Share your story with us, maybe it will change someone’s life.
My New Neighbors Invited Me Over, but All I Found Was an Abandoned Child with a Heartbreaking Note — Story of the Day
My new neighbors seemed odd from the start. Their little child played alone, and I ended up spending half the day with her until her mother finally appeared. Out of courtesy, she invited me over. The next day, I found the abandoned child with a heartbreaking note. I decided to act immediately.
It was a typical quiet day in our small suburban neighborhood when I noticed the moving truck pull up to the old house next door. The place had been abandoned for years, and seeing any activity there was surprising enough.
I stood at my window, peering through the curtains like a curious cat.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Who are they?” I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
The man was tall, with sharp features that made him look like he’d stepped out of a noir film.
The woman with him, though—she was something else. Pale, almost ghostly, with a distant look in her eyes as if she was there, but not really.
And then, there was the little girl.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
She couldn’t have been more than four years old. Tiny thing, with big eyes full of innocence, clutching a worn-out teddy bear as if it was her only friend in the world.
She played alone in the overgrown yard, her small figure seeming even smaller against the wild grass and tangled weeds.
What a strange family!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Samuel and I had always dreamed of having kids. After years of trying, though, it became painfully clear that it wasn’t going to happen for us.
Samuel never talked much about it, always brushing it off with a shrug or a quick change of subject.
But me? I couldn’t let go of the dream. And seeing that little girl, so alone… It stirred something deep inside me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
A few days later, I went for my usual walk around the neighborhood. As I turned the corner, there she was—the little girl from the neighbor’s house. This time, she was dangerously close to the street.
“Hey there, sweetie,” I called out gently, hurrying over. “Let’s not play so close to the road, okay?”
She looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes, and for a moment, I just stood there, holding her tiny hand.
I led her back toward her house and knocked on the door. No answer. My hand hesitated on the doorknob.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Should I?
I took a deep breath and pushed it open, just a crack.
The house was almost empty, just a few old pieces of furniture and scattered boxes. It was like they’d moved in but hadn’t settled. Nobody was inside.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“What’s your name, sweetie?” I asked, crouching down to the girl’s level.
“Lily,” she replied, her voice as soft as a whisper.
“Well, Lily,” I said, “how about we draw some pictures?”
“I have no crayons.”
Those words cut a hole in my heart.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Alrighty! Let’s use a stick and sand outside!” I tried to cheer her up.
She nodded eagerly, and I began tracing simple shapes with a wooden stick—a heart, a star, and the letter “A.” Lily watched closely, her eyes widening with each stroke of the stick.
“Can I try?” she asked, reaching for the stick.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Of course,” I handed it to her, “Why don’t you try writing your name?”
She carefully drew a shaky “L” in the dirt, then looked up at me for approval.
“That’s great, Lily! You’re doing such a good job!” I encouraged her.
After a while, we moved on to another game. I pointed to some stones nearby.
“Let’s build something together. How about a castle?”
“A castle! Yes!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
We gathered the stones, stacking them one on top of the other. It was a simple structure, really, but to Lily, it seemed like the grandest thing in the world.
“Look, it’s like a tower,” she said, placing a small stone carefully on top.
“It is! And here’s another one for the other side,” I added, handing her a flat stone. “You know, this could be where the princess lives.”
Lily’s face lit up even more at the idea.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“And the prince can live over here,” she said, pointing to a spot on the other side.
I noticed how intently Lily focused on the task as if each stone was a precious gem. It made me wonder if she had ever played with real toys before.
“Thank you for playing with me.”
My heart swelled at her words.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
As the sun began to set, I started to worry about what to do.
Finally, the girl’s mother appeared, almost out of nowhere. She seemed surprised to see me but didn’t show much emotion.
“Thanks,” she said flatly, taking the girl’s hand. “I was nearby all the time.”
There was no warmth, no smile—just those words. Before leaving, she added,
“Why don’t you come over for tea tomorrow?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
It wasn’t so much an invitation as an obligation. But I nodded, agreeing anyway.
I glanced down at Lily. She had been so engaged, so full of life while we played, but the moment her mother appeared, something in her seemed to change.
“Lily, it’s time to go.”
Without a word, Lily simply walked over to her mother, her small hand slipping into the woman’s cold grasp. There was no protest, no hesitation—just quiet obedience.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, Mommy.”
Lily looked back at me. “Will you come to play with me again?”
“Of course, sweetie,” I replied, my voice catching in my throat.
As I watched them disappear down the path, a sense of unease crept over me. That sadness in Lily’s eyes was like a silent plea, a cry for help that she couldn’t voice.
There was something off about this family—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The next day, I hesitated, staring at the chipped paint on the neighbor’s door, then knocked. No answer. I knocked again, louder this time, but still nothing.
“Hello? It’s me, from next door,” I called out, hoping to hear some sign of life inside.
Nothing. The house remained eerily quiet, the silence pressing down on me like a weight. After what felt like an eternity, I hesitantly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Hello?”
My footsteps sounded loud against the wooden floor as I wandered through the rooms, each one emptier than the last.
Then, in the living room, I found Lily. She was sitting on the floor with a pack of cookies and a bottle of water. She was holding a piece of paper in her tiny hands.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Lily?” I whispered, kneeling beside her.
She didn’t say anything, just handed me the note. I unfolded the paper, the heartbreaking message inside sending a cold chill down my spine:
“She’s yours if you want her. We know you’ll take good care of her.”
I stared at the words, my mind racing.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Who would do such a thing? Abandon their child like this, leaving her in an empty house with nothing but a note?
Panic started to rise in my chest, and I grabbed Lily, pulling her close.
“We need to go,” I whispered, scooping her up into my arms.
As I headed for the door, a terrifying thought crossed my mind.
What if this was a trap?
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I froze for a moment, my heart pounding. But then I looked down at Lily. I couldn’t leave her there, no matter the risks.
When we arrived back at my house, Samuel was already home. He looked up from the couch as I walked in.
“What is this?” he demanded.
I set Lily down gently and handed her a box of crackers and a glass of milk.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Here, sweetie, why don’t you have a snack and watch some cartoons?” I said, turning on the TV to distract her.
Once she was settled, I turned back to Samuel, who was now standing, his face twisted with anger.
“Why is there a child in our house, Eliza?” he raised his voice.
“Samuel, I found her alone,” I began, my voice trembling. “In that empty house, with nothing but this note.”
I handed him the paper. He read the note quickly, then looked up at me.
“You’ve broken our agreement, Eliza. We agreed—no children in this house!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Samuel, I couldn’t just leave her there! She was all alone, with no one to take care of her,” I pleaded, trying to make him understand.
But his anger only grew.
“I told you I didn’t want kids! And now you’ve brought one into our home? Do you even realize what you’ve done?”
His words cut deep, like a knife twisting in my chest.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You never said that! All these years, you said it was because of your health…”
He looked away, his jaw clenched.
“I lied. I never wanted children, Eliza. I just didn’t want to lose you.”
It felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. All those years, all those hopes and dreams… I had been living a lie.
Samuel delivered his ultimatum:
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Either you take her back, or go away.”
I stared at him, the man I had loved and trusted, and realized that I couldn’t stay. Not like this. Not with him.
Without another word, I turned away from him, gathering a few belongings. I packed a small bag, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over.
I couldn’t abandon Lily after everything she had already been through.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
As I took Lily’s hand and led her to the door, Samuel didn’t stop me. He just stood there, cold and distant, as if we were strangers.
I had no idea where we would go.
Finally, we ended up at the school where I work and spent the night in my office. I knew it wasn’t a permanent solution, but it was a start.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
In the following days, I began the adoption process for Lily, but it wasn’t easy. The authorities insisted I needed a stable home.
Then, unexpectedly, they informed me that Lily’s biological parents had left her an inheritance — the house. So, I could adopt Lily and move in there.
Shocked, I dug deeper and discovered that Lily’s foster parents — my neighbors — had adopted Lily solely for that inheritance. But realizing they couldn’t care for her, they decided she deserved better.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
To ensure she wouldn’t end up in another home for the wrong reasons, they left her, and the house, in my care. We moved in the same day, and the house became our home, filled with warmth and love.
Lily slowly opened up, and every time she called me “Mommy,” my heart swelled.
Samuel, living alone, began to reconsider his choices. He started helping around the house and taking care of Lily when I was busy. Forgiving him wasn’t easy, but his efforts made me feel that maybe we could find our way back to each other.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: My husband was cheating on me with my boss, and I silently endured it. Then, my boss handed me tickets to distant islands, clearly with her own agenda. At the airport, I found myself fighting for a taxi. Little did I know, that chaotic moment would mark the beginning of an unexpected love story.
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.
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