After finding out she couldn’t have a baby, Annie’s doctor gave her another choice: adoption, which led to a girl named Abiona, who couldn’t speak English at first. But when her new daughter learned enough, she told Annie a secret that changed everything.
Annie sat anxiously in Dr. Martinez’s office, surrounded by posters of happy families. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a comforting demeanor, invited her to sit.
Smiling, Annie asked, “When can we proceed with the fertilization procedure?”
Dr. Martinez took a deep breath before saying, “Unfortunately, the tests show you cannot have children. I’m very sorry.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
Annie’s heart sank. Despite considering IVF, the doctor advised against it due to low success rates and high risks. But she suggested an alternative — adoption — and handed Annie a booklet filled with information and pictures of children needing a home.
***
Annie sat at her kitchen table, the quiet of her home enveloping her as she browsed through the booklet. She was drawn to a photo of a baby, entranced by his innocent, smiling face.
Picking up the phone with trembling hands, she called the adoption agency and made an appointment. A few days later, she met Caitlin, a social worker, who welcomed Annie into her modest office. “Sorry you had to wait,” she said, shaking her head.
“It’s okay, don’t worry,” Annie replied, masking her nervousness.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
They sat and discussed Annie’s career, home life, and desire to adopt. “Can you devote enough time to a child? It’s not just a few hours a day,” Caitlin wondered.
Annie responded, “Yes, I understand. I’m ready to make sacrifices for my child.”
“Adoption can be challenging, especially in the beginning,” Caitlin continued, but ultimately, she approved Annie’s application.
“I understand,” Annie said, her voice firm. “Thank you.”
***
The next morning, Caitlin’s call interrupted Annie’s breakfast. “Hello, Annie?” she inquired.
“Yes, it’s me,” Annie replied.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“We’ve found a child for you,” the social worker revealed and talked about Abiona, a six-year-old from Congo who didn’t speak English. “Would you like to meet her today?”
“6 years old? No English? I… I need to think about this,” Annie’s voice wavered.
“Of course, take all the time you need. Have a good day,” Caitlin responded, but Annie heard her sighing before hanging up.
Annie spent the rest of the day pondering the idea of adopting a six-year-old. Motherhood typically began with a baby, so going straight into parenting an older child seemed… odd. However, this could be her only shot.
She called Caitlin the next day with a resounding yes, and the social worker arranged a visit with Abiona, who was staying with a foster family.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
***
Arriving at the foster home, Annie knocked on the door, her heart racing. She was greeted by a woman who, in a not particularly friendly tone, said, “Hello, how’s it going?”
“Hi, I’m Annie,” she replied, fidgeting slightly. “I came to see Abiona.”
The woman showed Annie inside, and it was hard not to notice the chaotic scene of her house. Kids were running around, the television blared in the background, and the living room was full of stuff.
But the woman pointed to a corner where Abiona sat, quietly drawing. “That’s her. Good luck because she doesn’t talk to anyone,” she said and left to scold some other kids.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Annie approached the girl, who briefly met her gaze before resuming her drawing. “Did you draw these yourself? They’re imposing,” she asked, kneeling to look closer.
Abiona nodded slightly without speaking.
The foster mother interrupted. “Don’t even try. She doesn’t understand a word of English,” she said. Annie looked up to see her sporting a superior expression.
“That’s fine,” Annie said, focusing entirely on the girl. She sat beside her and began drawing, too, attempting to communicate through pictures.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
She drew a house and a stick figure with long hair, saying, “This is my house. I live here. Do you want to live with me?”
The girl stared for a second at the paper, then at Annie’s face, before drawing a smaller stick figure next to hers. The gesture made Annie grin as her stomach fluttered.
***
She brought Abiona to her home and introduced her to her new cozy bedroom. The girl stayed silent and observant as she explored everything.
When she found paints and brushes laid out, she immediately began to draw, humming a happy tune. Annie watched for a second, taking in the moment. I’m finally a Mom, she thought before joining her new daughter.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Over the following months, Annie tried teaching Abiona English, but the traditional methods overwhelmed her. Therefore, she adapted her approach, using drawing sessions to teach her the language in a fun, engaging way.
Abiona responded positively, slowly learning words and phrases.
One day, while exploring the concept of family with a picture book, Annie pointed to an illustration and said, “See, this is a family,” then pointed to herself, “Mom,” and to Abiona, “Daughter.”
But instead of nodding in understanding, Abiona’s reaction was unexpected; she burst into tears.
“What’s wrong?” Annie asked, patting the girl’s head.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Abiona grabbed some of her drawings. “I have Mom and Dad,” she revealed, pointing her finger at the paper. Annie’s eyes widened. She didn’t understand because Caitlin had never talked about Abiona’s family.
“What are you saying, honey?” she asked.
“Bad…bad men took me from Mom and Dad,” the girl continued.
“Okay, okay,” Annie said, her voice turning low and soothing. “Tell me more.”
Through her broken English, Abiona explained that the evil men had taken her, but then she was with the police. She showed Annie a handmade toy, her only memory of her biological mom.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Shutterstock
“I little. Don’t know Mom’s face. But Mom smells honey. She give me this,” Abiona finished, biting her bottom lip and looking away to wipe a tear.
Annie was breathing heavily then, trying to contain her own emotions. A six-year-old shouldn’t have to be so strong by herself. She hugged the little girl, who began sobbing into her chest. Revealing that secret made their bond much stronger.
***
Months later, Abiona suffered a severe coughing fit in the night. Annie rushed her to the hospital as quickly as possible. “I need help! My daughter, she can’t breathe!” she wailed at the emergency room staff.
The medical team quickly attended to her daughter, leaving Annie anxiously waiting outside the exam room. Soon, she was stabilized but surrounded by beeping machines that only made things scarier. But the absolute horror came a few hours after the staff conducted several tests.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
One doctor entered the room, took a deep breath, and began. “I’m very sorry to tell you this. But Abiona is terminally ill. She only has a few days left.”
His words were careful, but they cut through Annie like a knife. “What?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What’s wrong with her?”
The doctor explained her condition. It had a complicated name that Annie didn’t understand as her mind was fogging with the implications.
“Should I have noticed sooner? She seemed so healthy. I adopted her a few months ago. No one told me anything.”
“You couldn’t have done much even if you had noticed something. This is a genetic disease, and it manifests very unexpectedly. This is not your fault,” the doctor finished, patting her shoulder, and left.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
***
Abiona awoke an hour later.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Annie whispered, squeezing the girl’s hand. “Is there anything you want? Anything I can get for you?”
Abiona’s voice was weak but clear. “I want to see my mom,” she murmured, a wistful look in her eyes.
Annie nodded and, determined to fulfill this wish, left the hospital with Abiona’s handmade toy, hoping it held clues to finding her biological mother. She went to the police station, where they agreed to test the toy for DNA.
Miraculously, they found a match and gave Annie the biological mother’s contact information. Her name was Tendey. Despite the call going unanswered, Annie insisted on finding Abiona’s mother, even if she had to do it in person.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
She drove to Tendey’s address, gathered her courage, and knocked on the door. When a woman appeared, Annie introduced herself and asked, “Tendey?”
The woman responded quickly, impatient. “Yes. That’s me, but I don’t want to join your god. I don’t need any services, and I don’t want to buy anything,” she said, almost closing the door.
But Annie threw her arm up, stopping her. “This is about Abiona,” she blurted. “She is currently in the hospital. The doctor said that she has a serious genetic disease and has a few days to live.”
Annie thought Tendey would be dismayed, but the woman crossed her arms instead. “I gave her away. Voluntarily. Renounced parental rights. So everything that is happening now is not my problem,” Tendey stated coldly.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Please. She’s your daughter. She’s dying and wants to see you,” Annie pleaded.
Tendey shook her head. “Listen. I don’t want to see her. Deal with it.”
Looking beyond Tendey, into her house, Annie sighed and noticed something. “Do you sell perfumes? Do you have a honey-scented one?”
“Ugh, yes,” Tendey said, looking behind her, confused.
“How much?” Annie asked.
***
At home, Annie searched on her computer, typing away as her plan fully developed. She searched for an actress resembling Tendey and found Sarah. Annie called and explained the situation.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Sarah was touched. “I’ll do it. It’s a strange request, but I can see it comes from a place of love,” she said. Annie provided all the details she knew about Abiona and her mother.
In the hospital room the next day, Annie and the actress prepared to fulfill Abiona’s last wish. Sprayed with honey-scented perfume, Sarah approached the girl’s bedside, carefully holding her tiny hand.
“Abiona, this is your mother,” Annie gently introduced.
Abiona, whose condition had worsened so much in just a day, believed Annie’s words easily. “You smell like Mom,” the girl whispered and opened her arms for a hug.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Sarah obliged, saying, “It’s because I am Mom.”
Abiona turned to Annie. “Thank you,” she whispered before falling asleep again. Sarah left a while later when it became clear that the girl wouldn’t wake up any time soon.
As the sun set, Annie watched over her daughter. Her breaths were too heavy, but that had been the norm for a few hours. She whispered to her, providing comfort and assurance in the quiet room filled with the soft beeping of machines.
She touched the girl’s head at some point and noticed the intense warmth. In her weakened state, Abiona faintly murmured “Mom” before falling back into unconsciousness. Annie rushed to find her doctor, who came in, did a quick examination, and exhaled, lowering his head.
“I’m afraid this may be it,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“No!” Annie wailed, hugging her child.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Abiona slept a little more soundly in Annie’s arms, but love wasn’t always enough. She passed after midnight with a final soft puff of air.
As the tears started flowing freely, Annie whispered, “You were loved. So loved. I’ll keep loving you forever.”
Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
If you enjoyed this story, read this one: A sudden tragedy brings Sarah and Eric together in an unbreakable bond. But when the boy learns a painful truth about their past, it sets them on a path of emotional turmoil, challenging the very foundation of their makeshift family and leading to a moment of life-threatening crisis.
This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers 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.
My Grandson Didn’t Speak Until He Was 5 Years Old – His First Words Shattered Our World
A thoughtful young boy | Source: Freepik
Danny never spoke a word until his fifth birthday, when he uttered a chilling confession, “Mommy has a secret.” As his grandmother, I’d always known there was more to Danny, but nothing could’ve prepared us for the truth his first words would reveal — or the chaos they’d unleash.
There’s something special about Danny. I’ve known it from the moment I first held him in my arms, long before the doctors had their say.
A newborn baby | Source: Pexels
See, Danny is five and doesn’t speak. The doctors say his development is delayed like it’s a simple thing, but I’m his grandmother, and I can feel it in my bones: Danny is different. Not broken, not wrong, just… different.
I look around the living room, brightly decorated for Danny’s fifth birthday. Despite all this, Danny is sitting in his usual spot by the window, tracing the lines of the carpet with his fingers.
I can’t help but smile. That’s just Danny in his own little world.
A boy examining a carpet | Source: Midjourney
Louise, my daughter, is fussing over the cake. She’s been more distant lately but wears her motherly face well. Her husband, Albert, is on his phone in the corner, probably answering work emails.
Albert loves his family. I know that much, but sometimes love isn’t enough when you’re stretched too thin.
I sip my tea, keeping my eye on Danny. Just as I’m about to look away, he stands up and marches toward me. His small hands clutch the sides of my chair, and for the first time in his five years of life, Danny lifts his eyes to meet mine.
Close up of a boy’s face | Source: Midjourney
“Grandma,” he says softly. My heart stops. “I need to tell you something about Mommy.”
The room goes silent. Every head turns. Louise, pale as a sheet, drops the knife she was using to cut the cake. It clatters to the floor, but no one moves to pick it up.
I smile down at him, even though my hands are trembling. “What is it, sweetheart? What do you need to tell me?”
Danny’s voice is calm, almost too calm for a child his age. “Mommy has a secret.”
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
Louise steps forward, her face tight with fear. “Danny,” she stammers, “why don’t you go play with your toys? We’ll talk later.”
But Danny doesn’t budge. His eyes never leave mine. “She’s not going to be around anymore,” he says, his tone matter-of-fact, like he’s discussing the weather.
The air in the room turns cold, suffocating. I swallow hard, my voice barely a whisper. “What do you mean, Danny?”
A shocked and concerned woman | Source: Midjourney
He looks at me, his face expressionless, and repeats himself. “Mommy’s leaving. She told someone on the phone.”
The words hit like a punch to the gut. Louise’s hands fly to her mouth, and Albert finally looks up from his phone, confusion twisting his features.
“Danny, that’s enough!” Louise’s voice cracks. She moves towards him, but I hold up a hand, stopping her in her tracks.
A woman holding up her hand | Source: Pexels
“No, let him finish.” My voice is steady, though inside, I’m unraveling.
Danny blinks, unaware of the chaos he’s caused. “I heard her tell the man on the phone,” he says. “She said she didn’t love Daddy anymore and something’s wrong with me. She said she wants to run away from both of us.”
Louise lets out a sob, crumbling where she stands. Albert, still in shock, stares at her as if seeing her for the first time. The room is spinning, the once joyful decorations now mocking us with their false cheer.
Birthday cake and decorations | Source: Pexels
Albert’s face is a mask of disbelief, but the hurt is starting to creep in. “Louise,” he whispers, his voice trembling, “is this true?”
Louise shakes her head, tears streaming down her face. “No, no, it’s not like that, Albert. He doesn’t understand. He… he must’ve misheard.”
She stumbles over her words, reaching out towards him, but Albert takes a step back, his eyes narrowing.
A couple having an emotional conversation | Source: Midjourney
“Misheard?” His voice rises, echoing off the walls. “He just said you told someone on the phone you didn’t love me anymore. That you wanted to run away from us! How do you mishear something like that, Louise?”
“I was upset,” she stammers. “I said things I didn’t mean, Albert. You’ve been so distant, and I felt lost.”
Danny, standing beside me, watches his parents with that same detached calm as if he’s not the one who dropped the bomb that’s now tearing them apart.
A calm boy | Source: Midjourney
I can’t take it anymore. I pull Danny into my arms, holding him close.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” I whisper, though I know nothing about this is okay.
Albert turns to Louise, his voice low and cold. “Who was the man, Louise? Who were you talking to?”
She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. Her silence says everything.
A speechless woman | Source: Midjourney
He nods slowly, the realization sinking in. “So it’s true. You’re leaving. You don’t love me anymore.”
Louise collapses into a chair, her body shaking with sobs. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she cries. “I’m lost, Albert. I don’t know who I am anymore.”
The room is thick with tension, every breath heavy. I keep Danny close, shielding him from the worst, but I know he’s absorbing every word. He’s always been more perceptive than anyone realized.
A woman holding her grandson close | Source: Midjourney
Albert’s voice is softer now but no less pained. “And what about Danny?” he asks. “You were going to leave him too? You said there’s something wrong with him?”
Louise shakes her head violently, her hands trembling as she grips the edge of the table. “No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. I love him, Albert. But it’s so hard. He never talks, never looks at me, and sometimes I don’t know how to reach him. I feel like I’m failing him.”
Her confession hangs in the air, raw and exposed. For a moment, there’s only silence.
A woman hanging her head | Source: Midjourney
Albert looks at her, his anger slowly giving way to something sadder, something more broken.
“I’m going to take Danny upstairs,” I say quietly, sensing that this is a conversation they need to have without an audience.
Danny doesn’t protest as I guide him towards the stairs. He walks beside me, calm as ever, his little hand slipping into mine.
A boy walking down a corridor | Source: Midjourney
The days after Danny’s birthday feel like the aftermath of a storm. The air is heavy with the weight of everything said, and nothing feels the same.
Louise tries to explain things to me when Danny’s asleep. She tells me she’s been feeling trapped for years, that she never wanted to be a mother in the first place but did it because it was what Albert wanted.
“I don’t know how to be Danny’s mother,” she confesses one night, her voice small. “I’ve tried, Mom. I really have. But I just… I don’t feel it.”
A woman speaking with her daughter | Source: Midjourney
I don’t know what to say. How do you comfort your daughter when she tells you she’s failing her child? How do you forgive her for wanting to run away? I can’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Albert, on the other hand, has moved swiftly. He’s filed for divorce, his heart too wounded to even try to mend what’s broken between them. I sit with him one evening after Danny has fallen asleep, the silence between us heavy.
“I don’t know what to do, Brenda,” he says, his voice rough with exhaustion. “I thought I knew her. I thought we were in this together. But now… I don’t even know who she is anymore.”
A sad man | Source: Midjourney
I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Albert. Sometimes people just… drift apart. And sometimes they break.” I swallow, trying to find the right words. “But you still have Danny. And he needs you. More than ever.”
Albert nods, though his eyes are far away. “He’s been talking more,” he says suddenly. “Not much, but sometimes. It’s like… he was waiting for something.”
I pause, letting his words sink in. “Maybe he was.”
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
It’s been months since the divorce was finalized. Danny has started to speak more often, though his words are still few and far between. He prefers to observe and take everything in before sharing what’s on his mind.
I’ve learned not to push him. He’ll talk when he’s ready.
One evening, I tuck him into bed, his small body curling into the blankets.
“Grandma,” he says softly, his voice still carrying that calm that unnerves me sometimes. “Do you know why I didn’t talk for so long?”
A young boy | Source: Midjourney
I blink, taken aback by the question. “Why, baby?”
He looks down, picking at the corner of his blanket. “I was waiting for the right time.”
My heart clenches. “The right time for what?”
“To tell the truth,” he says simply.
A young boy in bed | Source: Midjourney
I sit there, staring at him, my mind spinning. He’s only five, yet sometimes I feel like he sees more than all of us combined.
I lean down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Thank you for telling me the truth, Danny.”
He doesn’t say anything else but turns over in bed, ready to sleep. I sit there for a long time after, watching him. His quietness is not a burden, I realize now. It’s his strength. His way of understanding the world. And, in a way, it’s brought us all closer to the truth.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
Leave a Reply