When Cassie returns from a getaway with her husband and son, she walks into her home to see a cryptic message from her mother — telling her to watch a video. As Cassie presses play, her entire life changes. In the end, she’s left wondering which of her parents are worthy of forgiveness.
In my eyes, my father could do no wrong. He was everything I needed him to be and more. He was a businessman who was always traveling, but he ensured that he made enough time for me.
“You’re my little girl, Cassie,” he would say, bopping my nose with his index finger. “You’re the most special.”
A father carrying his daughter | Source: Pexels
My parents always went out of their way for me — ensuring that despite their busy schedules, we would have family dinner almost every night.
It was the one thing that kept me grounded while both of my friends from school were in the middle of their parents’ messy divorces.
“I think it’s trendy now,” I told my mother as she cut slices of banana bread for me after school one day.
Sliced banana bread | Source: Unsplash
“Cas, you cannot think that divorce is trendy,” she laughed. “It’s devastating and traumatic, and very few families actually keep things civil.”
“I’m just saying that it’s trendy because a lot of kids live between two homes,” I explained to her. “It’s one of those things we were talking about in class today.”
I was fourteen, and the world seemed more dramatic than it should have been.
A smiling girl in a hoodie | Source: Pexels
But what I didn’t know was that my words seemed to be an incantation that settled over our home.
A few weeks after that conversation, my father went away on a business trip. A few hours after he had been gone, there was news of his passing.
“How?” I asked. “How did he die?”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Cassie,” she replied. “I’m just saying what the paramedics told me.”
Two paramedics standing | Source: Pexels
“So what will we do next?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled by the question.
“For the funeral?” I asked. “Aren’t we going to have one?”
“I don’t think so,” my mother replied. “Dad wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread at the beach. Let’s do that instead.”
A black and white urn | Source: Pexels
I couldn’t fathom why my mother would want to do that — but at the end of the day, she knew my father best. And the longer I thought about it, the more beautiful and sentimental a private ceremony at the beach felt.
“Don’t be difficult, Cassie,” my mother said when she saw me thinking about my next move.
“I’m not,” I said. “Really. I was just thinking about it. It’s a great idea, Mom.”
A pathway to the beach | Source: Unsplash
I could have fought her for a send-off that I thought would have been more appropriate. But what use would it have been? At the end of the day, we had both lost him.
The months following the beach ceremony felt weighted, and I knew that I was becoming deeply depressed — my father had been our world. And his absence was felt more than anything.
But, with time, I learned to live with it.
A girl sitting on the floor and looking out the window | Source: Pexels
Last week, I decided to book a cabin in the woods for a little family vacation. My son was adamant that camping was the new best thing, and I knew that despite the wonders of nature, I wasn’t going to camp in a tent without a bathroom in sight.
Instead, I thought that a cabin would be the best option — my husband, Derek, could camp outside with Drew, our son, if he insisted on it.
A cabin in the woods | Source: Unsplash
We had a dog, therefore, I asked my mother to house-sit for the week so that we could be at peace, knowing that Romeo was taken care of.
A week away was more than enough to restore my mind — and eventually, when we went back home, I was surprised to see that my mother wasn’t there. In fact, it looked like she had never been there.
A dog lying on the grass | Source: Unsplash
But there, on the coffee table, was a note beneath the TV remote.
Watch this, Cassie. I’m sorry. — Mom
I didn’t know what was in store for me, but while Derek got Drew into the bath, I put the TV on and began to watch whatever my mother had planned.
The TV flickered to life, and there he was, my father, his voice a long-lost melody, his image aged but still, unmistakably him.
A person holding a TV remote | Source: Unsplash
Tears streamed down my face as the realization that he was still alive enveloped me in a mix of joy and disbelief.
The video message was nothing short of unpredictable.
My dear Cassie, I’m still here, alive. I’m so sorry for the pain that you must have felt from my loss. But it was needed. I needed to be removed from your life because of the sordid truth of my past. Your mother knows everything, please ask her for the truth.
My health is on a steady decline, and I would love to see you and explain it all.
Love you, Dad.
An old man | Source: Pexels
Without telling Derek or Drew anything, I grabbed the car keys and ran out. I needed my mother to explain.
“So, I bet you’ve got questions for me,” she said, opening the door.
“Explain it all,” I said.
“Cassie, it’s heavy. You look tired from your trip; are you sure you want to do this now?” she asked.
I nodded. It was now or never. I needed to know why my father faked his own death to get out of our lives.
My mother made us some tea and took out some shortbread.
Shortbread cookies on a plate | Source: Unsplash
“Darling,” she said. “I’ll understand if you don’t forgive me, but there’s so much about that time that I need to tell you.”
I sipped my tea, trying to figure out what my mother was about to tell me.
“I remember that you were telling me about your friend’s parents getting divorced. Do you remember that?” she asked.
I nodded. Of course, I did. It was the strangest thing, but it was so common when I was in school.
“Well, your father and I were not legally married. So when I told him about our conversation regarding divorce, he was actually relieved. Without being married, there would be no divorce.”
A marriage certificate | Source: Unsplash
“What’s the big deal?” I asked.
“Then I found out that the real reason that we didn’t get married was because your father was already married to another woman.”
“What?” I exclaimed, almost dropping my cup. “To who?”
“To a woman in the town where he always had his business trips.”
“You didn’t know?” I asked, unable to believe her words.
A couple showing off their wedding rings | Source: Unsplash
“Of course not!” she exclaimed. “But when I pressed him about it, he decided to choose that family over us. So, I told him that the story was going to be his death.”
We were both silent for a moment.
Turns out that my mother told him that she would never tell me the truth, not when he was my favorite person. She couldn’t burst my bubble in that way. And she refused to let him see me one more time.
“It was better for you to think that it was an accident,” my mother said. “It just made more sense.”
Now, I understood why we didn’t have a funeral for him.
“What did we throw into the sea, then?” I asked.
“Dust,” she replied with a straight face.
A cloud of dust | Source: Unsplash
My mother had spoken to him twice over the years. The second time being a day ago.
During their meeting, my father confessed his imminent death due to illness and requested that she give me the recording. My mother, torn by guilt and love, chose to write me the note and have the recording all set for me to watch.
“I would have taken the secret to my grave,” she said. “But knowing that he was ill and wanted to see you just struck something in me.”
A cemetery | Source: Pexels
Compelled by a need to confront the reality of my father’s existence, I traveled to the state where he lived with his other family.
I spent a few weeks with my father — going in and out of hospitals, watching him take an array of different medication, and growing weaker by the day.
Sitting at his bedside, I listened to his stories, the regrets, the moments of joy, and the love he had for all his children — myself included.
When things started to go downhill, I asked Derek to fly over with Drew. It was going to be a fleeting moment, but at least I’d know that my son had met my father.
A sick old man | Source: Pexels
A few days later, my father died.
Even now, I don’t know if I’ve forgiven him for the lie of having a double life. I just know that when it came to it in the end — I wanted to spend time with him. I had shoved my feelings aside, hoping for memories that I could figure out later.
But now that the dust has settled, I’m trying to figure out if I should forgive my mother for lying.
Flowers on a grave | Source: Pexels
What would you do?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Every Day after 21-Year-Old Son’s Death, Grieving Mom Finds Baby Toys on His Grave — Story of the Day
A grieving mother who visits her son’s grave almost every day is startled when she discovers baby toys there and learns a shocking truth about her son’s life.
“A MUSICIAN? Have you lost your mind, Leonard?” Kenneth snapped when his son declared his desire to pursue a career in music.
Leonard was 18 years old, fresh out of high school, and eager to follow his passion. However, his parents wanted him to become a lawyer, which Leonard didn’t want to be.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
He’d taken a gap year after high school because he didn’t want to rush into career decisions, and he discovered that music was something he really wanted to pursue. However, when he declared his desire to become a musician, his parents were anything but impressed.
“But what’s wrong with becoming a musician, dad?” Leonard grumbled. “There are so many people who followed their passion and are very successful now. I want to be one of them! I don’t want to do a boring desk job!”
“Look, son,” his father continued. “I have made my decision quite clear, and I don’t want to repeat myself. You’re going to become a successful lawyer just like your grandfather and me. Is that clear?”
“There’s no way, Dad!” Leonard shot back. “You cannot force me to do something I don’t want to do! I want to pursue my passion, music, and that’s what I’ll do!”
“But honey,” his mother intervened. “Your father is not pressuring you. He just doesn’t want you to waste your time over something that’s not even certain. You see, so many people have big dreams, but only a handful achieves them. He’s just worried about you and doesn’t want you to suffer.”
“Oh really, mom?” Leonard snapped. “If he really cares about me, he should support me!”
“Calm down, Leonard. Don’t forget you are talking to your parents!” his father warned him. “If you want to make your own decisions, why don’t you pay for your university? If you stay with us, you have to listen to us and obey us. Otherwise, get lost!”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Fine, dad!” Leonard said. “I’ll prove to you guys one day how wrong you are. I don’t want to be your obligation anyway. I’ll make money as well as a name for myself!” Leonard said and walked away to his room.
Leonard’s mother, Lily, advised him to calm down and talk things out sometime later, but he was furious. He packed his bags that evening and walked out of the house, vowing never to return.
Lily kept requesting him not to do that. She even tried convincing Kenneth to stop their son, but the man was so adamant about his decisions that he didn’t budge at all. At the same time, even Leonard didn’t care. He was hell-bent on proving his parents wrong, so he left the house that evening, severing all ties with them.
Three years passed without any contact between Leonard and his parents. Lily was frequently concerned about her son, so she tried calling him a few times, but all of her calls went to voicemail, and Leonard never returned them.
However, while Lily was preparing breakfast one morning, her phone rang. She quickly wiped her hands and dashed to answer it, but what she heard on the other end of the line made her feel disoriented.
It was a phone call informing her that Leonard, her son, had died. The young boy was involved in a motorcycle accident and died before reaching the hospital.
Lily burst into tears, unable to accept the death of her beloved son. “No way! That can’t happen! Nothing has happened to my son!” She sobbed loudly enough to summon Kenneth, who was taken aback when he saw Lily on their living room floor, clutching her phone and crying her heart out.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“Honey, what’s the matter?” Kenneth asked worriedly. But Lily couldn’t respond.
Kenneth snatched the phone from Lily’s grasp at that point. “Hello? “Who is this?”
“This is Officer Duncan calling, sir. We regret to inform you that your son, Leonard Williams, died this morning in a motorcycle accident. We would appreciate it if you could come as soon as possible to confirm the boy’s body is Leonard’s. We found your phone number in his phone and called you.”
Kenneth couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you sure, officer, that’s our Leonard? This…this can’t be……”
“Look, sir. We found this contact on the victim’s phone. This number was listed as “mom.” Either way, you should come and confirm the body. Thank you,” Officer Duncan said before hanging up.
Kenneth and Lily were heartbroken. They rushed from Chicago to Milwaukee, where the officer had said Leonard’s body was, hoping that everything they had heard was a mistake or a bad dream that would pass quickly.
However, when they arrived at the morgue, they couldn’t believe the lifeless boy, the pale-skinned body, was their son. Lily sobbed on the floor, and Kenneth had a stream of tears streaming down his cheeks.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Kenneth and Lily organized their son’s funeral the next day in Milwaukee — too heartbroken to bring him to their hometown, the place which had marked the beginning of their estranged relationship — and bid Leonard farewell. But the loss of their son strained their relationship.
Kenneth became extremely quiet, drinking heavily and cursing himself deep down for being a terrible father, as Lily continued to blame him for kicking their son out of their home.
In the days that followed, Kenneth never bothered to accompany Lily to Leonard’s grave. He felt guilty about confronting his son, and he could never muster enough courage to face him. Lily, on the other hand, drove two hours to visit her son’s grave every day.
One day, she had just arrived at Leonard’s grave when she noticed a small teddy bear near it. She removed it and set it aside, thinking someone must have left it there by mistake, replaced it with the bouquet she’d bought, and sat there talking to her son for a while before leaving.
However, when she returned to the grave the next day, the teddy bear was there again, and this time there were several toys with it.
She was perplexed at this point as to whether they had been left there on purpose. She asked the caretaker if he knew anything, but he said he didn’t.
Lily left the cemetery that day, wondering who could be bringing toys to her son’s grave, but when she returned the next day, all her doubts vanished.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Unsplash
Lily had just arrived at the cemetery that day when she noticed a young woman standing in front of Leonard’s grave, holding a baby in her arms. The woman’s had eyes were closed like she was praying. After a few minutes, she placed a toy near Leonard’s grave and walked away.
Lily couldn’t contain her curiosity and decided to approach her. “Excuse me,” she said. “Do you know my son? I just noticed you placed a toy near his grave. Are you the one who has been doing it for days?”
The woman looked a little stunned. “Are you Lily Williams? Leonard’s mother?”
“You know me?” Lily’s eyes widened.
“Of course, Mrs. Williams,” the woman said, her eyes welling up. Lily sensed a strange fear and worry in her tears. “I’m Carrie. I’m Leonard’s girlfriend. And this baby is Henry, our son.”
Lily couldn’t believe her eyes when she looked at the child. The baby was an exact replica of her late son! “But Leonard, he never….”
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
“I never imagined we’d meet like this, Mrs. Williams,” Carrie stated. “Leonard missed you terribly. He was hoping to reconnect with you, but…” The woman almost burst into tears.
Lily consoled her, then the two walked to a nearby park. As Carrie sat there wiping her tears, she revealed the whole story to Lily.
It turned out Leonard met Carrie when he came to her town to pursue his dreams. However, due to lack of funds, he began working as a part-time waiter at a diner to support himself, and it was there that he met Carrie.
The two moved in together, and more than a year later, Carrie got pregnant. Leonard was overjoyed! He wrote a song dedicated to his future child, which was not a big hit but received a lot of attention in some US states.
That inspired him to take the next step in his career, and he began knocking on the doors of various producers. Some even agreed to collaborate with him. However, tragedy struck Carrie and Leonard when the man was involved in an accident.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
That very morning, Carrie was rushed to the hospital due to labor pains. A neighbor had called the ambulance for her, and she had no idea Leonard was involved in an accident. She was unconscious for a few days after the delivery, and when she woke up, she learned Leonard had passed away.
The woman couldn’t stop crying and began visiting his grave almost daily. The toys she’d been leaving were the ones Leonard had purchased for their child.
“I didn’t know what to do when I found out he had died,” Carrie went on. “The cops….they tracked my address through Leonard’s driver’s license, and that’s how I found out he was no longer alive. They also said that you and Mr. Williams had planned the funeral in Milwaukee. I contacted the cemeteries one by one and discovered Leonard was here.
“I wanted to meet you one day but didn’t know how to. Leonard loved you, and he promised that when he became famous, he’d call you and his father here, and all of us would live happily as a family. But sadly, that did not happen.”
Lily couldn’t contain her tears when she heard that. She’d already lost her son, and she didn’t want to lose her grandson as well. So she invited Carrie and Henry to move in with her, asserting that they were as much a part of her family as Leonard. The young lady was hesitant at first but eventually agreed when Lily insisted.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
Thanks to that fateful day, Lily and Kenneth’s lives changed for the better. Kenneth became a loving grandfather to Henry, and seeing him care for the little boy caused Lily to become more patient and understanding with him, which improved their relationship.
Carrie considers herself fortunate to have met Lily and Kenneth, who are wonderful grandparents to Henry. They also helped her get Leonard’s song published by a well-known label.
Carrie says Henry, who is 5 years old now, is incredibly proud of his father’s career as a musician and aspires to follow in his father’s footsteps, and Lily and Kenneth are fully supportive of Henry.
What can we learn from this story?
- Anger and impatience only complicate things. Instead of leaving his parents’ house in a rage, Leonard could have tried another way to convince his parents of his passion. Kenneth, too, should not have been so harsh with his son. Anger and arguments just strained Kenneth and Leonard’s relationship to the point that the boy severed ties with his father and Lily.
- It’s not always easy, but having a big heart and acceptance sometimes makes things right. Lily and Kenneth’s relationship had improved since Lily welcomed Carrie and Henry into her home and accepted them as her family.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about an old widow who pays for a poor man’s groceries and notices he’s a carbon copy of her late spouse.
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.
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