My world fell apart when I met someone by chance at my mother-in-law’s garage sale. Among the many small items that were lying around, I found a touching memory of my past: a soft pink blanket with tiny white daisies that was lovingly made for my daughter Daisy. I thought the same blanket was buried with her.
My life fell apart five years ago when I thought my daughter had died at birth. Aaron, my husband, and Margaret, his mother, told me that everything would be okay, even a private funeral. I was filled with grief, which made things worse between Aaron and me.
When the blanket suddenly showed up again, it caused a lot of questions. Margaret’s flippant answer only made me more determined. Aaron’s behavior showed that he felt guilty and hinted at a secret truth.
As the front fell apart, Aaron told the terrible truth: Daisy was still alive. Margaret had made a sneaky plan to get Aaron to give our daughter to Ellen, his childless sister. Years of pain, a fake funeral, and the truth that was kept from everyone.
In my mind, Ellen’s “miracle baby” came back to me. It wasn’t an accident that Lily looks a lot like me. I asked to see my daughter.
It was sad to see each other again. Lily’s innocence stood in stark contrast to the weight of lying. Ellen’s admission of guilt and apologies didn’t help much.
Margaret’s acts caused a lot of problems, including a broken family, a divorce, and criminal charges. Aaron and Ellen worked together to avoid being charged.
As I rebuild my life today, I’m figuring out how to handle my complicated relationship with Lily. The blanket used to stand for loss, but now it stands for recovery.
