After finding out she couldn’t have a baby, Annie’s doctor gave her another choice: adoption, which led to a girl named Abiona, who couldn’t speak English at first. But when her new daughter learned enough, she told Annie a secret that changed everything.
Annie sat anxiously in Dr. Martinez’s office, surrounded by posters of happy families. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a comforting demeanor, invited her to sit.
Smiling, Annie asked, “When can we proceed with the fertilization procedure?”
Dr. Martinez took a deep breath before saying, “Unfortunately, the tests show you cannot have children. I’m very sorry.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Annie’s heart sank. Despite considering IVF, the doctor advised against it due to low success rates and high risks. But she suggested an alternative — adoption — and handed Annie a booklet filled with information and pictures of children needing a home.
***
Annie sat at her kitchen table, the quiet of her home enveloping her as she browsed through the booklet. She was drawn to a photo of a baby, entranced by his innocent, smiling face.
Picking up the phone with trembling hands, she called the adoption agency and made an appointment. A few days later, she met Caitlin, a social worker, who welcomed Annie into her modest office. “Sorry you had to wait,” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s okay, don’t worry,” Annie replied, masking her nervousness.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
They sat and discussed Annie’s career, home life, and desire to adopt. “Can you devote enough time to a child? It’s not just a few hours a day,” Caitlin wondered.
Annie responded, “Yes, I understand. I’m ready to make sacrifices for my child.”
“Adoption can be challenging, especially in the beginning,” Caitlin continued, but ultimately, she approved Annie’s application.
“I understand,” Annie said, her voice firm. “Thank you.”
***
The next morning, Caitlin’s call interrupted Annie’s breakfast. “Hello, Annie?” she inquired.
“Yes, it’s me,” Annie replied.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“We’ve found a child for you,” the social worker revealed and talked about Abiona, a six-year-old from Congo who didn’t speak English. “Would you like to meet her today?”
“6 years old? No English? I… I need to think about this,” Annie’s voice wavered.
“Of course, take all the time you need. Have a good day,” Caitlin responded, but Annie heard her sighing before hanging up.
Annie spent the rest of the day pondering the idea of adopting a six-year-old. Motherhood typically began with a baby, so going straight into parenting an older child seemed… odd. However, this could be her only shot.
She called Caitlin the next day with a resounding yes, and the social worker arranged a visit with Abiona, who was staying with a foster family.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
***
Arriving at the foster home, Annie knocked on the door, her heart racing. She was greeted by a woman who, in a not particularly friendly tone, said, “Hello, how’s it going?”
“Hi, I’m Annie,” she replied, fidgeting slightly. “I came to see Abiona.”
The woman showed Annie inside, and it was hard not to notice the chaotic scene of her house. Kids were running around, the television blared in the background, and the living room was full of stuff.
But the woman pointed to a corner where Abiona sat, quietly drawing. “That’s her. Good luck because she doesn’t talk to anyone,” she said and left to scold some other kids.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Annie approached the girl, who briefly met her gaze before resuming her drawing. “Did you draw these yourself? They’re imposing,” she asked, kneeling to look closer.
Abiona nodded slightly without speaking.
The foster mother interrupted. “Don’t even try. She doesn’t understand a word of English,” she said. Annie looked up to see her sporting a superior expression.
“That’s fine,” Annie said, focusing entirely on the girl. She sat beside her and began drawing, too, attempting to communicate through pictures.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
She drew a house and a stick figure with long hair, saying, “This is my house. I live here. Do you want to live with me?”
The girl stared for a second at the paper, then at Annie’s face, before drawing a smaller stick figure next to hers. The gesture made Annie grin as her stomach fluttered.
***
She brought Abiona to her home and introduced her to her new cozy bedroom. The girl stayed silent and observant as she explored everything.
When she found paints and brushes laid out, she immediately began to draw, humming a happy tune. Annie watched for a second, taking in the moment. I’m finally a Mom, she thought before joining her new daughter.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Over the following months, Annie tried teaching Abiona English, but the traditional methods overwhelmed her. Therefore, she adapted her approach, using drawing sessions to teach her the language in a fun, engaging way.
Abiona responded positively, slowly learning words and phrases.
One day, while exploring the concept of family with a picture book, Annie pointed to an illustration and said, “See, this is a family,” then pointed to herself, “Mom,” and to Abiona, “Daughter.”
But instead of nodding in understanding, Abiona’s reaction was unexpected; she burst into tears.
“What’s wrong?” Annie asked, patting the girl’s head.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Abiona grabbed some of her drawings. “I have Mom and Dad,” she revealed, pointing her finger at the paper. Annie’s eyes widened. She didn’t understand because Caitlin had never talked about Abiona’s family.
“What are you saying, honey?” she asked.
“Bad…bad men took me from Mom and Dad,” the girl continued.
“Okay, okay,” Annie said, her voice turning low and soothing. “Tell me more.”
Through her broken English, Abiona explained that the evil men had taken her, but then she was with the police. She showed Annie a handmade toy, her only memory of her biological mom.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“I little. Don’t know Mom’s face. But Mom smells honey. She give me this,” Abiona finished, biting her bottom lip and looking away to wipe a tear.
Annie was breathing heavily then, trying to contain her own emotions. A six-year-old shouldn’t have to be so strong by herself. She hugged the little girl, who began sobbing into her chest. Revealing that secret made their bond much stronger.
***
Months later, Abiona suffered a severe coughing fit in the night. Annie rushed her to the hospital as quickly as possible. “I need help! My daughter, she can’t breathe!” she wailed at the emergency room staff.
The medical team quickly attended to her daughter, leaving Annie anxiously waiting outside the exam room. Soon, she was stabilized but surrounded by beeping machines that only made things scarier. But the absolute horror came a few hours after the staff conducted several tests.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
One doctor entered the room, took a deep breath, and began. “I’m very sorry to tell you this. But Abiona is terminally ill. She only has a few days left.”
His words were careful, but they cut through Annie like a knife. “What?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What’s wrong with her?”
The doctor explained her condition. It had a complicated name that Annie didn’t understand as her mind was fogging with the implications.
“Should I have noticed sooner? She seemed so healthy. I adopted her a few months ago. No one told me anything.”
“You couldn’t have done much even if you had noticed something. This is a genetic disease, and it manifests very unexpectedly. This is not your fault,” the doctor finished, patting her shoulder, and left.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
***
Abiona awoke an hour later.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Annie whispered, squeezing the girl’s hand. “Is there anything you want? Anything I can get for you?”
Abiona’s voice was weak but clear. “I want to see my mom,” she murmured, a wistful look in her eyes.
Annie nodded and, determined to fulfill this wish, left the hospital with Abiona’s handmade toy, hoping it held clues to finding her biological mother. She went to the police station, where they agreed to test the toy for DNA.
Miraculously, they found a match and gave Annie the biological mother’s contact information. Her name was Tendey. Despite the call going unanswered, Annie insisted on finding Abiona’s mother, even if she had to do it in person.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
She drove to Tendey’s address, gathered her courage, and knocked on the door. When a woman appeared, Annie introduced herself and asked, “Tendey?”
The woman responded quickly, impatient. “Yes. That’s me, but I don’t want to join your god. I don’t need any services, and I don’t want to buy anything,” she said, almost closing the door.
But Annie threw her arm up, stopping her. “This is about Abiona,” she blurted. “She is currently in the hospital. The doctor said that she has a serious genetic disease and has a few days to live.”
Annie thought Tendey would be dismayed, but the woman crossed her arms instead. “I gave her away. Voluntarily. Renounced parental rights. So everything that is happening now is not my problem,” Tendey stated coldly.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Please. She’s your daughter. She’s dying and wants to see you,” Annie pleaded.
Tendey shook her head. “Listen. I don’t want to see her. Deal with it.”
Looking beyond Tendey, into her house, Annie sighed and noticed something. “Do you sell perfumes? Do you have a honey-scented one?”
“Ugh, yes,” Tendey said, looking behind her, confused.
“How much?” Annie asked.
***
At home, Annie searched on her computer, typing away as her plan fully developed. She searched for an actress resembling Tendey and found Sarah. Annie called and explained the situation.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Sarah was touched. “I’ll do it. It’s a strange request, but I can see it comes from a place of love,” she said. Annie provided all the details she knew about Abiona and her mother.
In the hospital room the next day, Annie and the actress prepared to fulfill Abiona’s last wish. Sprayed with honey-scented perfume, Sarah approached the girl’s bedside, carefully holding her tiny hand.
“Abiona, this is your mother,” Annie gently introduced.
Abiona, whose condition had worsened so much in just a day, believed Annie’s words easily. “You smell like Mom,” the girl whispered and opened her arms for a hug.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Sarah obliged, saying, “It’s because I am Mom.”
Abiona turned to Annie. “Thank you,” she whispered before falling asleep again. Sarah left a while later when it became clear that the girl wouldn’t wake up any time soon.
As the sun set, Annie watched over her daughter. Her breaths were too heavy, but that had been the norm for a few hours. She whispered to her, providing comfort and assurance in the quiet room filled with the soft beeping of machines.
She touched the girl’s head at some point and noticed the intense warmth. In her weakened state, Abiona faintly murmured “Mom” before falling back into unconsciousness. Annie rushed to find her doctor, who came in, did a quick examination, and exhaled, lowering his head.
“I’m afraid this may be it,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“No!” Annie wailed, hugging her child.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Abiona slept a little more soundly in Annie’s arms, but love wasn’t always enough. She passed after midnight with a final soft puff of air.
As the tears started flowing freely, Annie whispered, “You were loved. So loved. I’ll keep loving you forever.”
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: A sudden tragedy brings Sarah and Eric together in an unbreakable bond. But when the boy learns a painful truth about their past, it sets them on a path of emotional turmoil, challenging the very foundation of their makeshift family and leading to a moment of life-threatening crisis.
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.
Woman Hired a Fake Father to Walk Her Down the Aisle – The Idea Changed Her Life Forever
On her wedding day, Emily, filled with nervous anticipation, found unexpected comfort in Michael, the kind actor she hired to walk her down the aisle. Their bond, forged through shared stories and rehearsals, brought a sense of family and love she had long missed.
Emily sat in her cozy apartment, the soft light of evening casting a warm glow. Her fingers trembled as she dialed her father’s number. She hadn’t spoken to Richard in months. Their last conversation had been brief and awkward. She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar knot of anxiety tightening in her chest.
Nervous Emily | Source: Midjourney
As the phone rang, Emily’s mind drifted back to her childhood. Richard had been her hero. He used to scoop her up in his strong arms and spin her around until she giggled uncontrollably. He was there for every scraped knee and bedtime story.
She recalled how Richard would tuck her in and read her favorite book, his voice comforting and warm. “You’re my little princess,” he’d say, kissing her forehead. She felt safe and loved.
Richard reads a book to young Emily | Source: Midjourney
But everything changed when Emily turned ten. Richard met someone else, and suddenly, he left her and her mother, Susan, for another woman and her two children.
Susan was left to pick up the pieces. She worked tirelessly to provide for Emily. “Mom, where’s Dad?” Emily would ask, sitting by the window, hoping to see his car pull into the driveway. But it rarely did.
When Richard did visit, it was fleeting and filled with awkward silences. Emily missed her dad’s laughter, his presence. She felt abandoned.
Emily waited for her Dad for hours | Source: Midjourney
As years passed, Emily watched from a distance as her father built a new life with his second wife and her two children. They became his priority, receiving the love and attention Emily had once known. She saw photos of family vacations, birthday parties, and graduations, all without her.
Richard would occasionally send a card or a gift, but it felt obligatory, lacking any real sentiment. The final blow came when Richard refused to support Emily’s college education, citing financial constraints. Yet, he funded lavish vacations and private school tuition for his stepchildren.
A Christmas card | Source: Pexels
“Congratulations on graduating with honors,” Susan said, tears of pride in her eyes. Emily had relied on scholarships and part-time jobs to achieve her dream. Her heart hardened by her father’s neglect, she vowed to succeed without him.
“Dad, it’s Emily,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Emily,” Richard replied, his tone cold and impatient. “What do you want?”
Emily swallowed hard. “I’m getting married, Dad. I was hoping you could walk me down the aisle.”
Emily called Richard | Source: Midjourney
There was a long pause. “Emily, I can’t do that. Lily, my stepdaughter, has already asked me to walk her down the aisle when she gets married. I promised her it would be something special, just between us.”
Emily felt her heart shatter. “But, Dad, I’m your daughter too,” she said, her voice cracking.
“I’m sorry, Emily. I can’t make exceptions. You understand,” Richard said.
The call ended, leaving Emily in a state of shock and humiliation. She sat there, the rejection echoing in her mind. She had been so hopeful, and now, she felt utterly defeated.
A woman with tears in her eyes | Source: Pexels
Later that evening, Emily met her best friend, Jessica, at their favorite café. As she recounted the painful conversation with her father, tears streamed down her cheeks.
“That’s just awful, Em,” Jessica said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “But you don’t need him to make your day special.”
“But what am I going to do?” Emily asked, her voice choked with emotion. “John’s parents will be there. I told them I’d ask my father. It’s embarrassing. I can’t walk down the aisle alone.”
Emily talks to Jessica | Source: Midjourney
“Why don’t you hire someone to walk you down the aisle?” Jessica proposed, her eyes bright with excitement.
Emily blinked, stunned. “Hire someone? That sounds crazy, Jess.”
“Think about it,” Jessica urged. “You could find someone who would genuinely care, at least for the day. You deserve to feel special, Em.”
Emily and Jessica in a cafe | Source: Midjourney
Emily sighed, considering the idea. It did sound crazy, but also kind of…possible. “I guess it could work,” she said slowly. “How do I even start looking?”
Jessica smiled, pulling out her phone. “Leave it to me.”
A week later, Emily found herself in a small café, nervously waiting for her potential “father.” The agency had recommended Michael, a kind and charismatic actor in his fifties.
“Hi, you must be Emily,” Michael said, extending his hand with a warm smile.
Michael smiles at Emily | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, that’s me,” Emily replied, shaking his hand. “Thank you for meeting me.”
They sat down, and Emily explained her situation. “I just want someone who will make me feel loved and supported on my wedding day,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Michael listened intently. “I promise, Emily, I will be that person for you.”
A crying woman | Source: Pexels
As the wedding day approached, Emily and Michael rehearsed together frequently. They spent hours practicing the walk, ensuring everything would be perfect. But these rehearsals became more than just practice; they were opportunities to connect on a deeper level. They shared personal stories, slowly creating a sense of trust and connection that Emily had longed for.
“My dad used to take me to the park every Sunday,” Emily shared one day, her eyes glistening with nostalgia. “We’d play catch and have ice cream. Those were some of my happiest moments.”
Emily walks with Michael | Source: Midjourney
Michael listened intently, nodding with a warm smile. “Sounds like fun. My daughter and I used to do the same,” he said. “We had a favorite ice cream truck that we’d always go to after playing.”
Emily laughed, the sound light and free. “Those are the memories that stick with you,” she said, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Michael.
A laughing woman | Source: Pexels
They laughed and talked, their bond growing stronger with each rehearsal. Emily felt a warmth and comfort she hadn’t known in years. Michael’s presence was reassuring, filling a void she hadn’t realized was so deep. Through their shared stories and mutual understanding, Emily began to feel a sense of family once again.
The big day arrived, bathed in soft sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows of the church. Emily stood at the entrance, her heart pounding with nervous anticipation.
A wedding in a church | Source: Pexels
The soft murmur of guests seated inside barely reached her ears as she tried to steady her breath. Michael, standing beside her in a well-tailored suit, took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“You look beautiful, Emily,” he said, his eyes filled with warmth and genuine admiration.
“Thank you, Michael,” she replied, her voice tinged with a mixture of nerves and gratitude. She felt a wave of affection for this man who had stepped into a role she never imagined needing to fill.
Michael leads Emily down the aisle | Source: Midjourney
As they began their walk down the aisle, the organ playing softly in the background, Emily felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and happiness. Each step she took with Michael beside her seemed to erase the years of pain and longing. For the first time in years, she felt truly cherished and supported.
The ceremony was beautiful, a perfect blend of heartfelt vows and joyful tears. Everyone commented on the touching moment between Emily and her “father,” seeing the genuine bond they had formed. It was a day Emily would remember forever, not just for her marriage to John, but for the sense of family she had found in the most unexpected place.
Groom and bride exchange vows | Source: Pexels
At the reception, Emily noticed her mother, Susan, talking to Michael. They seemed to be getting along well.
“Your mom is wonderful,” Michael said to Emily later. “We have so much in common.”
Susan and Michael’s conversations were filled with shared interests and experiences. They laughed and talked, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment.
Michael talks to Susan | Source: Midjourney
Over the next few months, Susan and Michael’s relationship blossomed. They spent time together, discovering more about each other and enjoying each other’s company.
One evening, Michael proposed to Susan in a small, intimate gathering at Emily’s apartment. “Will you marry me, Susan?” he asked, holding out a simple yet elegant ring.
Susan’s eyes filled with tears of joy. “Yes, Michael, I will.”
A marriage proposal | Source: Pexels
The wedding plans began, and Emily was asked to walk Michael down the aisle. As she took his arm on that special day, she felt a profound sense of closure and fulfillment. The man who had been hired to play a role had become a real father figure.
During the ceremony, Michael looked at Emily with a mixture of pride and gratitude. “Thank you for bringing me into your lives,” he whispered.
Emily smiled, her heart swelling with love. “Thank you for being the father I always needed.”
Emily walks Michael down the aisle | Source: Midjourney
As Susan and Michael exchanged vows, Emily knew that her journey had come full circle. Her father’s rejection had led her to a family richer in love and support than she ever dreamed possible.
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