
I always dreamed of becoming a mother, and finally, my dream was coming true. But the joy of expecting a child was overshadowed by my husband’s unexpected business trip and the arrival of a stranger who turned out to be connected to my past.
My husband David and I had been preparing and planning for a child for a long time, but for many years, nothing worked out. We had tried everything we could think of, and the constant disappointment was heartbreaking.

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But eight months ago, everything changed. I finally saw those coveted two lines on the pregnancy test. This pregnancy was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
The joy I felt was indescribable. I knew I would never abandon this child as someone once did to me. Even though I was adopted when I was a year old, and my adoptive parents were wonderful, learning that I was adopted broke me at the time.
It felt like a part of my identity was missing. But now, I was eagerly awaiting our baby, ready to give them all the love I had received and more.

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David and I decided to have a partner birth, so I knew it would be a special moment for both of us.
One evening, when David returned from work, he looked very tired and worried. I tried to find out what had happened, but he only responded that everything was fine.
We had dinner in silence, and I felt he wasn’t telling me something. The tension in the air was thick, and I could see he was struggling with something.

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“David, please talk to me. It’s hard for me to see you like this,” I said, my voice soft but insistent.
David sighed heavily and rubbed his nose, looking down at the floor. “Alright,” he began slowly. “I’ve been sent on a business trip in ten days. I’ll be paid very well for it, and I thought it was a good opportunity since the baby is coming soon.”
“That’s great. Why do you look so sad then?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

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“Because they don’t know how long they’ll need me there. They said to expect anywhere from two weeks to a month,” David said, his voice strained.
“But the birth could happen during that time,” I said, placing a hand on my stomach, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me.
“I know. That’s why I’m in this state,” David replied, his eyes filled with worry.
“Then refuse,” I suggested, trying to keep my voice steady.

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“I can’t. It will affect my future work, and we could use the extra money,” he explained, frustration evident in his tone.
“But you might not be there for the birth,” I said, my voice breaking slightly.
David got up and came over to me, hugging me tightly. “That’s why I found a doula for you. I want you to have support while I’m away,” he said, his voice gentle.

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“I want to give birth with my husband, not some stranger,” I said, dissatisfied.
“I know. But Martha is very good, and many people recommended her to me,” he tried to reassure me.
“I don’t like this idea,” I said, shaking my head.

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“I’ll try to return as soon as possible, but I want us to have some backup. Let me arrange a meeting with her while I’m still here. If you don’t like her, we’ll look for other options,” he offered, trying to find a compromise.
“I don’t want other options. I want you to be with me,” I insisted, feeling tears well up in my eyes.
“I want to be with you and the baby too,” David said, placing his hand on my belly. “That’s why I feel awful about having to leave. But we’ll get through this, and I hope to be back before you start giving birth, okay?”

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“Okay,” I said softly.
That evening, we just lay together, hugging, as if not wanting to let each other go for even a moment. The fear of him not being there for the birth was heavy in my heart, but I knew we had to face this together, even if it meant being apart for a little while.

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Two days after that conversation with David, I was on my way to meet the doula, Martha. To be honest, I wasn’t very positive about this meeting because I didn’t fully understand how a stranger could support me during such an important moment.
I parked near the café where Martha and I had agreed to meet and went inside. The café was warm and inviting, with the rich smell of coffee filling the air. I looked around, not knowing which of the people there was Martha.

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Suddenly, a woman sitting alone at a table waved at me, and I realized it was her. She looked older than I expected, around 50, with kind eyes and a gentle smile. I approached and sat at the table.
“Hi! I’m Martha, and you must be Sheila,” she said, her smile warm and inviting.
“Yes, but how did you know it was me?” I asked, a bit surprised.
“You looked confused… and pregnant,” she added with a gentle laugh.

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“Right, I just feel like this belly has always been with me,” I said, laughing too.
“I understand, but believe me, you’ll feel such relief when it’s gone,” Martha said, nodding.
“I can only imagine,” I replied, trying to picture that moment.

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Martha and I talked for two hours. She explained what her work would involve and how she could help me. She spoke about different techniques for pain management, relaxation, and support during labor.
I described how I envisioned the process, emphasizing the importance of a calm and supportive environment. It turned out our views were very similar, and we immediately found common ground.

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Martha’s experience and empathy reassured me, and I was grateful to David for coming up with this idea.
As the conversation was ending, Martha asked, “Do you have any more questions for me?”
“Yes, I don’t want to be tactless, but do you have children?” I asked, feeling a bit awkward.

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“No, I decided to dedicate my life to medical school and then to working in this field, but now I’m here,” Martha said, smiling. “But I have given birth,” she added softly.
“Oh…” I said, sensing it might have been something very personal and possibly traumatic for her.
We stood up from the table, and Martha came over to hug me goodbye. As she hugged me, I noticed her looking at the large birthmark on my shoulder.

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“In my teenage years, I thought about removing it because I didn’t like it, but now I consider it my unique feature,” I said, trying to make light of it. Martha looked at me, puzzled. “I’m talking about the birthmark,” I added for clarity.
“Oh, yes. It’s very nice,” Martha said, rushing off. I didn’t understand her behavior but decided to ignore it. Maybe she remembered she was late for something.
As I left the café, I felt a mix of relief and curiosity, wondering more about this woman who would be by my side during such an important moment.

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Time passed, and my due date was approaching. It was hard without David during this period, but Martha was very supportive. She visited almost every day and even helped with household chores.
Her presence was comforting, and she always knew how to calm my nerves. I felt like Martha understood me like no one else. It was as if we were related, and I couldn’t shake that feeling.

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David was supposed to fly back home that day, and I just hoped he would make it before our baby started to arrive. Martha and I were checking my hospital bag, probably for the tenth time, due to my anxiety.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure everything you need is there. If anything is missing, I’ll definitely bring it,” Martha said, her voice calm and reassuring.
“I know, I just want everything to go perfectly,” I replied, trying to hide my anxiety.

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“Oh, dear. This is childbirth; it can’t be perfect. But your baby will be, and that’s what matters,” she said, smiling.
“Thank you, Martha,” I said, feeling a bit better. I went to the kitchen to pour myself some cold juice. As I approached the fridge, I felt something was wrong. I realized my water bag had broken. I immediately went to Martha.
“My water broke,” I said, panicking, my voice trembling.

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“Quick, sit down,” Martha said, helping me to the couch. Within seconds, I felt the first contraction and screamed.
“Breathe, remember how I taught you to breathe,” Martha said. But the pain was too intense for me to think clearly. “Breathe, Amber, breathe,” she said, and it snapped me out of my panic.
“What did you call me?” I asked, confused.

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“I meant Sheila, sorry, I made a mistake,” Martha said quickly. “But you need to focus on your breathing now.”
“When I was born, they named me Amber. But my mother abandoned me, and my adoptive parents renamed me when I was a year old, right after they adopted me. Don’t tell me this is a coincidence,” I pressed her, my heart racing.
“Sheila, it truly is just a coincidence,” Martha said, her face serious.

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“What happened to the baby? You said you gave birth but have no children. What happened to that baby?” I asked, my voice rising.
“I gave her up for adoption,” Martha answered quietly.
“It was me, wasn’t it? I felt something was off. I noticed we were too similar,” I said, my voice shaking.
“Sheila, you need to focus on your baby now,” Martha said, trying to keep me calm.

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“It was me?!” I shouted, feeling a mix of anger and confusion.
“Yes,” Martha admitted.
“And how long have you known?” I demanded.
“Since our first meeting when I saw your birthmark,” Martha said, her eyes filled with regret.

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“I can’t believe you’ve been lying to me all this time!” I cried, feeling betrayed.
“Sheila, I wanted to do the right thing,” she said, her voice breaking.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to see you,” I said, struggling to get up from the couch, grabbing my hospital bag, and heading to the car.
“What are you doing?” Martha shouted after me.

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“I’m driving myself to the hospital, and you can leave. I don’t want to see you,” I replied.
“That’s dangerous!” she shouted, but I ignored her. The contractions were coming fast, but I couldn’t think about anything other than getting to the hospital and being away from Martha.
I got into the car, feeling intense contractions but trying to drive anyway. The pain was overwhelming, making it hard to focus on the road. The drive to the hospital felt endless, each bump and turn amplifying the agony.

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I kept trying to call David, but he wasn’t answering his phone. He was probably still on the plane. I prayed he would make it in time.
When I finally reached the hospital, nurses surrounded me with concern. They asked me many questions I couldn’t answer in my state. They quickly put me in a room, and a doctor told me I would give birth within two hours.

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My labor was progressing rapidly. David still hadn’t called me back, and the worry added to my pain. My whole body was in agony, and I felt like I couldn’t bear it any longer.
Suddenly, I saw the door to the room open, and Martha walked in.
“I don’t want to see you!” I screamed, my voice filled with pain and anger.
Martha calmly approached me. “I called David. He was leaving the airport and should be on his way here,” she said. “I know you’re angry, but I can help you until David arrives.”

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“I don’t need anything from you!” I shouted, but then another contraction began, making me cry out in pain. Martha breathed with me and applied a cold compress to my head.
I decided to stop arguing. I really needed support, even if it was from the woman who had abandoned me and then lied. An hour later, the pushing began, and the doctor said it was time to give birth.
“I don’t want to give birth without David!” I cried. “He should be here soon.”
“Sweetheart, the baby is the priority now, and we can’t delay,” Martha said gently.

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“No! I want my husband by my side!” I pleaded, but they didn’t listen. The doctor and nurses gathered around me. “Please, wait for David!”
Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and a breathless David walked in. “It’s okay, I’m here,” he said, taking my hand. Relief washed over me as I felt his strong grip.
David and Martha supported and helped me as much as they could. Martha held my hand and reminded me to breathe while David stayed by my side, encouraging me.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my daughter was born. It was the best and happiest moment of my life. Her first cry filled the room, and tears of joy streamed down my face.

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A few hours after the birth, Martha came to me. David was asleep in a chair, holding our daughter.
“I’m sorry for abandoning you and lying, but—” Martha began, her voice soft and filled with regret.
I interrupted her, “I don’t want to talk about this now. But we will discuss it later, and you will explain everything to me.”

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I didn’t want to spoil this day with unpleasant conversations. Martha nodded sadly and was about to leave the room.
“Can you bring me some cold juice? I didn’t get to drink it,” I asked her, trying to keep things light.
Martha smiled. “Of course,” she said and left the room. As I watched her go, I thought that now that I was a mother myself, maybe I could understand why she did what she did.

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These 5 Jokes Are the Ultimate Mood Boosters—You’ll Thank Us Later
Life can be really busy, and we often feel stressed about deadlines. But laughter is a wonderful way to lift our spirits. So, take a break, relax, and enjoy these jokes.
In today’s fast-moving world, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos. However, just taking a moment to laugh can really improve your mood and well-being. That’s why we’ve put together this list of funny jokes that are sure to make you smile and boost your spirits.

1) The Cowboy Knew What He Was Doing
One night, an old, blind cowboy accidentally walked into an all-girls biker bar. He found a bar stool and ordered a cup of coffee.

After sitting there for a while, he called out, “Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?”
The bar went completely silent.
Then, a woman next to him said in a deep voice, “Before you tell that joke, cowboy, I think you should know five things:
The bartender is a blonde woman with a baseball bat.
The bouncer is a blonde woman.
I’m a 6-foot-tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
The woman beside me is a blonde professional weightlifter.
The lady to your right is a blonde professional wrestler.”
After a moment, she asked, “Now, do you still want to tell that joke?”
The cowboy thought for a second, shook his head, and said, “Nope… not if I have to explain it five times.”
—
2) Too Good to Be True
One day, Arnold was scrolling through Facebook and saw an ad for a black SUV. The price looked too good to be true.

“Mom!” he shouted. “Can I buy a car? I’m old enough to drive now and saw this awesome ad. Someone’s selling an SUV for just $25!”
“Oh, Arnold,” his mother sighed. “It must be a mistake. Who would sell a car for that little?”
“Can we go see it, Mom? Please?” he begged. “It’s just a few blocks away.”
“Alright,” she agreed.
The next day, Arnold and his mom went to the address. There it was—a brand new black SUV in perfect condition, with only a few hundred miles on it.
A woman came out of her house and asked, “So, you’re interested in buying the car?”
“Yes!” Arnold replied. “It’s so nice! How much is it? The ad said $25 but…”
“The price is still $25,” she said. “I can lower it if you think it’s too high.”
Arnold quickly paid and signed the papers. But his mom wanted to ask one last question.
“Why are you selling such a nice SUV for so little?” she inquired.
“Well,” the woman said, “my husband left me and ran away with his secretary. He called from Hawaii and said, ‘Sell my car and send me the money.’ So, that’s what I’m doing.”
—
3) The Lazy Employee
A company hired a new CEO named Richard, hoping he would improve things.
On his first day, Richard wanted to find and get rid of all the lazy workers. He left his office to walk around and saw a young man leaning against a wall.

Richard thought this was his chance to show everyone he wouldn’t tolerate laziness. He walked up to the guy and asked, “How much do you make in a week?”
“$200, sir,” the young man answered. “Why?”
Everyone in the office was now watching Richard. He pulled out his wallet and handed the guy $200.
“Here’s a week’s pay. Now get out! This place isn’t for lazy people!”
Richard felt good about firing someone. When the guy left, he turned to the others and asked, “Can anyone tell me what the slacker did here?”
Then a senior employee said, “Sir, that was the pizza delivery guy.”
—
4) The Big News
One day, Peter’s parents told him they wanted to discuss something very important.
“What happened, Dad?” he asked.

“Son, we need to tell you that you’re adopted,” his father replied.
“What?” Peter was shocked.
“We wanted to wait for the right time to tell you,” his mother explained.
“I knew it! I always felt different! I want to meet my real parents!” Peter said.
“We are your real parents,” his father said. “Now pack up; your new ones are coming to get you in 20 minutes.”
—
5) The Unusual Interview
A young woman was interviewing for an entry-level job. After a few minutes, the interviewers realized she wasn’t very smart.

They didn’t want to cut the interview short, so they asked her simple questions to fill the time.
“How old are you?” one interviewer asked.
The woman started counting on her fingers.
“27 years, sir,” she said after a minute.
The interviewers exchanged glances before the second one asked, “How tall are you?”
The woman took out a measuring tape from her bag, stood up, and measured herself.
“Five feet, three inches,” she replied.
Then the first interviewer asked, “Okay, can you just tell us your name?”
To their surprise, the woman chanted something quietly and then said, “Neha!”
One of the interviewers, unable to hold back, asked, “What took you so long to say your name?”
“I was just recalling that song,” she replied. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Neha…”
So, which joke did you like best? Don’t forget to share these jokes with your loved ones. You might brighten their day!
Feeling down or just need a boost? You’re in luck! We’ve gathered seven of the funniest jokes to make you smile and lift your spirits. From forgetful seniors to clever kids, these stories are sure to make you chuckle.
So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy some fun humor!
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