When I was eight years old, my father’s lies broke my world. A lot of things changed after I thought my mother had died, but a chance meeting showed me the terrible truth.
Dad broke the sad news to Josh after Mum was taken to the hospital: “Your mother has died.” When we moved, we took memories with us. But there were still questions.
When we moved into our new house, Dad introduced Erika as a “family friend.” After they got married quickly, her real intentions came to light right away. She looked down on me and constantly put me down and gave me jobs to do.
The mean girl Erika finally lost it one day and said, “You’re useless, just like your mother!” “Don’t talk about my mum!” I replied. Dad stepped in and scolded me.
As the years went by, Erika’s anger grew. I was set on getting away. When I was seventeen, I found her looking through my room and trying to get rid of a picture of my mum.
I yelled at her and challenged her. Dad stepped in, but I didn’t back down. I ran away while grabbing Mom’s picture out of fear of his anger. I chose to go back to our old village at the bus stop.
As I walked down streets I knew, I came across a poor woman whose eyes looked eerily like my mother’s. “Emma Fraser?” I took a risk.
She turned around in shock. “Josh! “Son, is that you?” We hugged, and tears came out. The truth came out: Dad’s cheating, theft, and attempt to change custody.
Mum was determined to find me, but she didn’t have the tools she needed. We all started over, found a place to live, and put our lives back together.
By changing my last name to Fraser, I separated myself from my dad’s bad habits. His interest in family history was just a front.
This taught me that the truth always wins and that real family goes beyond blood ties.
