An unexpected turn of events happened on the eve of Thanksgiving that would forever change the course of my life. Something kind and thoughtful changed everything I thought I knew about love, family, and the future I had planned.
Walking slowly through the grocery store, picking out the right foods for our Thanksgiving meal, my thoughts went to the life I wanted—one full of laughter, love, and the warmth of family. Paul, my boyfriend, and I had talked about having a family, but he wasn’t ready to do it yet.
An angry voice caught my attention as I turned a corner. A woman who looked upset threw a little girl into my arms. She asked, “Please, can you hold her for just a minute?” and then she disappeared into the crowd.
Ella, the little girl, held on tight to an old toy rabbit, her eyes wide with fear. I asked her what her name was and who her mother was to make her feel better. I knew Ella’s mother wasn’t coming back as the minutes went by.
I didn’t feel safe taking Ella to the security desk to look for her mother. But no one came forward to claim her. When I realised what was really going on, I knew I had to make a choice.
Paul’s refusal to help Ella made me even more determined. Ella put her little hand on mine as we stood in the gas station parking lot. I knew I couldn’t turn my back on her. Paul made his goals clear, and I realised that our plans for the future were no longer the same.
As the night went on, Ella and I became inseparable. We made my small flat look nice, cooked a Thanksgiving dinner on the fly, and laughed together. I felt like I had a reason and a place in the world for the first time in my life.
Our short-lived happiness did not last long, though. Child Protective Services showed up with a knock on the door. It made me feel empty and hopeless when they took Ella away.
It was too late for Paul’s effort to make peace. I knew I deserved better after seeing what his goals were. I felt free as I watched him leave.
After that, the weeks were a blur of papers and waiting. Finally, the call that would change my life forever came on Christmas Eve. Ella was going to get home.
When I opened the door and saw her standing there with a small smile on her face, I knew I had made the right choice. She was my gift, the centre of every holiday, and the family I had always dreamed of having.
