I had been through a big change in my life seven years ago. Christina, my best friend, left her two young boys and I to care for them. She never came back. I took them in as my own, and our life together was full of love, laughter, and tears.
But fate can catch us off guard. Dylan saw a woman in the crowd on a beach trip who made his heart skip a beat. His voice was shaking as he asked, “Is that her?”
It was Christina. Older and worn, but still clearly her.
Dylan’s feelings came out as he talked to her. He asked, “Why did you leave us?” “Are you aware of what you did?” We were ready for you! Mom was ready for you!”
Christina’s answer, “denial,” broke my heart.
Dylan showed a lot of love and care for me, his chosen mother. “You’re not my mom!” He pointed at me and said, “She is!”
We were shocked by what happened. But life had one more surprise for them.
When we got to our hotel, we saw that the bathroom wasn’t clean. When I called the front desk, Christina, the cleaner, came right at that time.
This time, she told the truth. She left her kids with me because she was broken, scared, and couldn’t take care of them.
I felt bad for the woman who had been going through a hard time in secret. She had to make a hard choice because it was her last chance to save herself and her children.
Dylan’s action of putting a dollar in Christina’s hand and telling her they would clean the bathroom together said a lot.
I realized that our family’s love and strength had helped them get through abandonment and confusion as we left the hotel and the past behind.
“Can we go home, Mom?” It was Dylan.
We could, of course. We did that.
When I think about that terrible day, I understand that closure can come from places you least expect it. When love is at its best, it can get over even the worst memories.
