When Victoria returned to her grandfather’s home in Iowa, she noticed his favorite sofa was still residing in the living room. The woman sat on it for a while, remembering her childhood days, then it suddenly cracked. What she discovered inside changed her whole life.
Victoria’s mother, Ella, abandoned her at a young age and moved to New York with her lover because she was tired of living in poverty. Edward, Victoria’s father, worked as a delivery man in the mornings and as a warehouse operator at night, but the money wasn’t enough to keep the family afloat.
On top of that, there was Victoria’s grandfather Silas who was in the last stages of his life fighting his battle with cancer and primarily himself. So Ella found an easy way out of her misery by moving from Iowa to New York with her boyfriend.
Victoria inherited an old sofa from Silas | Photo: Shutterstock
Victoria was 15 years old at the time. The teenager had hardly gotten over her mother’s elopement when her father passed away in a tragic accident a few months later, leaving her and Silas alone.
Ella paid Victoria visits and talked to her on the phone after Edward’s death, but Silas didn’t like it. He had never liked her in the first place, but after she left them, he hated her even more.
However, when Silas left for his heavenly abode a year later, it forced Victoria to relocate to her mother’s home in New York. Dave, Ella’s so-called lover, clearly didn’t like her, and Victoria didn’t admire him either.
Due to their frequent clashes, problems arose in their household over time, and Dave eventually left. Ella and Victoria’s relationship soured even more after this because Dave told Ella he was leaving her because he hated Victoria and her “obnoxious” attitude.
Victoria was orphaned after her mother abandoned her and her father died | Photo: Pexels
Ella initially managed to survive with the money left over from what her boyfriend had given her, so she did not scrimp on expensive gifts at first. That’s how they got by for about a half-year.
Ella was always dragging something to the pawnshop, and she didn’t seem to care about getting a job or planning for the future. She didn’t want to work, so when her savings ran out, she went out and found another man.
Tired of living a miserable life with her mother, Victoria applied for scholarships and somehow ended up in New York University, where she met Kevin. They met while working part-time at the same cafe, and their friendship quickly blossomed into love.
Soon, the lovebirds moved in together, and Victoria got pregnant. They were almost ready to graduate at the time, but Kevin dumped Victoria after learning of her pregnancy.
Victoria returned to her mother seeking assistance, but she refused to help her, so the young woman somehow finished her degree and returned to her grandfather’s house in Iowa.
Victoria returned to her grandfather’s house in Iowa | Photo: Pexels
The house had been boarded up for years, and it could barely be seen from the road because of the thickets of weeds. Victoria decided to call for assistance because the heavy door would not budge.
Thankfully, her gaze was drawn to a young man chopping firewood in the next yard. “Hey, can you please help me?” Victoria shouted from her doorstep.
The man looked up from the wood and smiled at her. “Sure,” he replied. “I’ll be there in 2 minutes.”
Victoria noticed that the man was limping badly, so she ran up to him. “I’m sorry for troubling you. I should probably call someone else.”
As she came closer, he could see her clearly. “Victoria, is that you?” he exclaimed, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Victoria looked at him, puzzled because she didn’t recognize him. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”
The man turned out to be Victoria’s childhood friend | Photo: Pexels
“Of course,” the man replied with a broad smile. “Remember we were friends as kids? It’s me, Tim!”
“Oh, Tim! I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you! You’ve changed so much! You were so chubby as a teen and look at you now!”
“I guess hard work does that to you,” he joked. “But how did you end up here?”
“Well, that’s quite a story. Would you mind assisting me with the door first?” she said. “Hand me the tools, I’ll carry them,” she added, taking notice of his limp.
With the use of his tools, within five minutes, Timothy manage to juggle the rusty door open. “Wow, there must be ghosts in there! Look how much dust and cobwebs there are! Let me help you clean up.”
Victoria declined, insisting she’d clean the house herself, but Timothy persuaded her, and it took them nearly three hours to dust the entire house properly. Meanwhile, Victoria told her story about how she ended up in Iowa after her boyfriend and mother abandoned her.
Then it was time to clean Silas’ sofa, which was beautifully adorned with a dusty white sheet and numerous spiderwebs in the living room.
The house was in terrible condition | Photo: Pexels
“You know, this sofa meant a lot to grandpa,” Victoria explained to Timothy, “and he looked after it like it was the apple of his eye. This sofa with cracked armrests has made it through three generations, and hopefully will make it through the fourth.” She placed her hand on her baby bump.
“But before that, it needs cleaning,” Timothy replied. “So move aside, you’ve already helped a lot with the cleaning, and this much dust is bad for your baby.”
As Timothy cleaned the sofa, Victoria continued her sofa story. “I would often attempt to jump on it to test its rear springs in action, but then grandpa would yell at me, ‘Victoria! Get your skinny bones off the couch!’ Ahh, I miss him so much!”
“Well, now that it’s clean, you can at least sit here for a while and rest,” Timothy said after tidying the sofa.
But as Victoria attempted to sit, having dried up over many years in an unheated house, the sofa was crunched disgustingly. And as she tried to get more comfortable on it, it cracked treacherously and parted!
Victoria jumped up in surprise, feeling something solid hidden in the sofa. “There’s something in here!”
Victoria discovered a small chest inside the sofa | Photo: Pexels
The sofa’s padding, which leaked and crumbled from time to time, revealed a small chest hidden deep within. When they opened it, they discovered gold ducats, jewelry, and a note addressed to Victoria.
“I hope this letter finds you well, Victoria,” the note began. “I wanted to give this to you sooner, but you were too young.”
“My grandfather gave me this inheritance and told me to give it to someone who needed it,” the note continued. “I believe you are the most in need of it because I am aware of how badly your mother treats you and how sad it must have been for you when Edward left. I hope this will be of assistance to you. Love, Silas.”
“Well, wow, now that’s one hell of a sofa!” Timothy said thoughtfully, scratching the back of his head.
However, Victoria couldn’t stop crying. Thanks to her grandad, her life did change for the better after she discovered the chest. She sold some of the treasures and used the proceeds to renovate her home, and she used some of the money to build a new room for her baby.
Victoria delivered a healthy baby boy | Photo: Pexels
Timothy was by her side at all times, assisting her with everything from finding carpenters for the house to taking her to appointments and visiting her on weekends, so she didn’t feel left out.
A few months later, Victoria delivered a healthy baby boy. Timothy helped her look after the baby, and they gradually became close. Soon, the man proposed to Victoria for marriage, and Victoria happily accepted.
Finally, her family was complete. She had an adoring husband, a lovely child, and their grandfather’s blessing on the sofa she’d inherited. Thankfully, his sofa assisted them to the point where they could start a small business together with the money they had saved from selling the jewels.
What can we learn from this story?
- There’s a delay in God’s court but no denial. Victoria had to go through a lot initially, but everything worked out in the end.
- Matches are made in heaven. Kevin and Victoria’s relationship didn’t work out because she was fated to end up with Timothy.
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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about firefighters who cared for an old lady for 27 years after her daughter kicked her out of the house.
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.
My Kids Said They Wished I Never Existed, and the Next Day Their Wish Came True — Story of the Day
My kids told me they wished I didn’t exist, and those words cut deeper than anything I’d ever heard. They were angry, careless—but I decided to take their wish seriously. I vanished from their lives, leaving no trace. It was time they learned what life would be like without Mom.
I’d heard it countless times—people saying housewives had it easy. They stayed home, relaxed, and lived off their husbands’ hard work. What a joke!
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Let me tell you, my being a stay-at-home mom wasn’t just a job; it was an endless marathon with no breaks. My days were a blur of cleaning, cooking, managing tantrums, and juggling a thousand other things.
Tom, my sweet but stubborn five-year-old, was at that age where every little thing was a battle.
Eliza, on the other hand, was teetering on the edge of her pre-teen years—full of sass and mood swings.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
And my husband, Justin? He thought his paycheck excused him from everything else. It was exhausting.
That evening, as usual, we sat down for dinner together. Sharing our day had become a routine, though it often came with surprises.
I looked at Tom, who was already playing with his peas. “Tom, how was preschool today?” I asked, trying to sound cheerful.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He shrugged. “It was okay, but Miss Jackson might call you tomorrow.”
That caught my attention. “Why would she call me?” I asked, putting down my fork.
“I just wanted to pet a dog outside, but Miss Jackson said you shouldn’t touch stray dogs because they can have rab—rabai—” Tom paused, frowning.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Rabies,” Eliza said with an exaggerated eye roll.
Tom nodded. “Yeah, rabies.”
I leaned forward. “And why does that mean she might call me?”
Tom hesitated, then blurted, “Well, I didn’t like what she said, so I bit her.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I stared at him, shocked. “You bit your teacher?” My voice rose without meaning to.
Tom nodded, completely unbothered. “She said rabies spreads by bites. I wanted to show her.”
“Mom, you gave birth to a lunatic,” Eliza muttered, smirking.
“Don’t talk about your brother like that,” I said firmly. Then I turned to Justin, who was busy eating. “Justin, do you have anything to say about this?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He glanced up briefly. “You’re handling it great, honey,” he said, patting my hand.
I sighed, turning back to Tom. “Tom, we’ve talked about this. You can’t bite people. It hurts, and it’s wrong. Next time, use words to express how you feel.”
Finally, I faced Eliza. “How was your day?”
“Fine,” she said, barely looking up.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“That’s all?” I asked.
“Oh, I’m sleeping over at Nancy’s tomorrow, remember?” she added casually.
“Yes, I remember,” I said, feeling my energy drain.
The next day started badly and only got worse. When I went into Tom’s room to check if he had cleaned up like I’d asked, it looked like a tornado had hit it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Toys, clothes, and books were everywhere. I felt my patience slipping, but there wasn’t time to deal with it.
I had to apologize to Miss Jackson for Tom biting her, which was embarrassing enough.
Then, as I finally sat down to breathe, the phone rang. Eliza’s school informed me she had skipped classes. My anger boiled over. By the time they got home, I was ready for a serious talk.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Wait, both of you, stop right there,” I said as Tom and Eliza headed to their rooms. My voice made them freeze.
“What is it now?” Eliza asked, sounding irritated.
“Let’s start with Tom,” I said, turning to him. “I saw your room. It’s a disaster. We agreed that if you didn’t keep it clean, I’d take away your games. So, your console is mine until you show me you can keep your room tidy.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Tom’s eyes went wide. “What? No! That’s not fair!” he yelled, crossing his arms.
Eliza smirked. “Nice job, Tom,” she said with a mocking tone.
“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you, young lady,” I snapped. “I got a call from your school today. They told me you skipped class.”
“It was one time! Just one!” Eliza shouted, her face red with anger.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“You’re grounded for a week,” I said firmly. “No sleepover at Nancy’s.”
“You can’t do this! ‘’ve been planning that forever!” Eliza screamed, clenching her fists.
“Then you shouldn’t have skipped class,” I replied calmly.
“I hate you! I wish you didn’t exist!” she yelled before stomping off to her room and slamming the door.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah! Me too!” Tom shouted, running to his own room.
I stood there, tears welling up. My chest felt heavy, but I swallowed the lump in my throat.
When Justin got home, I recounted everything. He listened quietly, barely responding.
“Well?” I asked, desperate for some support.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Maybe you were too hard on them,” he said, shrugging. “They’re just kids.”
“Did you hear me? Did you hear what Eliza said to me?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger.
“She didn’t mean it,” he said, brushing it off.
“I’ve had enough,” I said, my voice cold. “I’ll show them what it’s like when I’m not here.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“What are you talking about?” Justin asked, confused.
“You’ll see,” I said and walked away.
That night, as the house lay silent, I began my plan. Justin, always a heavy sleeper, didn’t stir once.
I moved quietly, gathering every single thing that was mine—clothes from the closet, photos from the walls, notebooks from the desk.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Even my favorite mug, the one I used every morning, went into a box. I left no sign that I had ever been there.
With everything packed, I carried it all up to the attic. The attic was dusty and cramped, but I set up a mattress in the corner, arranging a small lamp and a blanket. Justin wouldn’t think to look here; he barely remembered the attic existed.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Before settling in, I set up cameras in the kitchen and living room. I needed to see how they managed without me. This was only the beginning.
The next morning, I watched them from the camera feed as they stood in the kitchen, looking lost.
“Where’s Mom?” Tom asked, his voice unsure.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I don’t know,” Eliza said, glancing around. “But even her pictures are gone. The ones on the wall, too.”
“Her clothes aren’t in the closet,” Justin added, scratching his head.
Tom’s eyes widened. “Did our wish come true? Did Mom really disappear?”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Justin said, shaking his head.
“But she’s really gone!” Eliza insisted. “Her stuff isn’t here. There’s no sign of her at all.”
Justin pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her. This is probably some kind of joke.” But I had turned my phone off. He stared at the screen for a moment before putting it back in his pocket.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, sounding annoyed. “I’ll drop you off at school. We’ll figure this out later.”
Eliza hesitated. “Can I still go to Nancy’s sleepover?”
“Yes, yes. Just get in the car,” Justin said impatiently.
“Yes!” Eliza cheered. Then she grinned. “Maybe it’s better this way. Mom was always on my case anyway.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“That means I can play video games!” Tom shouted, jumping up.
I felt my chest tighten. My heart ached as I watched them. They didn’t miss me; they seemed relieved. They were happy I was gone.
That evening, I watched from the camera as Justin and Tom sat on the couch, laughing and playing video games.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
A pizza box sat open on the coffee table, grease stains already soaking into the cardboard.
I noticed Tom eating a big slice loaded with cheese. My stomach tightened. He was lactose intolerant. Justin, distracted by the game, had clearly forgotten.
The next morning, my fears were confirmed. Tom was curled up on the couch, pale and groaning.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Justin scrambled to find medicine, muttering under his breath. He ended up staying home from work, trying to comfort Tom while also cleaning up the mess.
By the third day, chaos ruled. Dishes piled up in the sink, laundry was untouched, and the kids left for school with nothing but dry cereal in their hands.
That evening, Tom sat crying on the couch, overwhelmed. Even Eliza, who usually stayed distant, looked defeated. Her hair was a mess as she clutched her empty lunchbox.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I miss Mom,” Tom finally said, looking up at Justin. His little face was streaked with tears, and his lip trembled.
“Me too,” Eliza added, her voice quieter than usual. She looked down at her hands. “I got my period today, and I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to call Mom so bad, but I couldn’t. It made me feel awful.”
Justin sighed, leaning back on the couch. “I think this is because of what you both said. You told her you didn’t want her to exist. Now she’s showing you what that feels like.”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“But that’s not true!” Eliza said, her voice cracking. Tears filled her eyes. “I was just mad. I didn’t mean it. I’m so stupid for saying that.”
Tom sniffled loudly. “I want Mom to come back. I’ll clean my room every day. I won’t bite anyone ever again. I promise.”
Eliza wiped her face and nodded. “I’ll stop yelling at her. I’ll listen better. I can’t live without her. I miss her so much,” she said, sobbing.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
Hearing their words broke the last bit of resolve I had. I stepped out of the shadows, standing in the doorway. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson,” I said, my voice firm but full of emotion.
They turned to me in shock before running into my arms. “Mom! You’re back!” they cried, hugging me tightly.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Really, it’s so good to see you,” Justin said, standing and walking over. “These past few days have shown me what a monumental job you do. I’ll try to make things easier for you from now on.”
“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft.
“No, thank you, for everything,” Justin replied.
“Thank you, Mom! We love you so much!” the kids said together, holding on tight.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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