When my mum got sick and had to go to the hospital, my whole world fell apart. The only stability in my life was when my dad would come to see her with me from time to time. He told Josh one day, “Your mother is dead,” which was very sad.
My dad’s words hit me like a punch in the gut when I was only eight years old. He quickly put our bags away and told us we had to leave town to get away from the memories. That made me feel confused and sad.
Our new life started, but I quickly felt that something was wrong. My dad put me in touch with Erika, who he said was a friend. But their relationship changed quickly, and they got married only a few months after I thought my mum had died.
Erika’s true personality quickly became clear: she was cold, detached, and mean. She put me down all the time, and my dad didn’t do much to stop her. In my own home, I felt like I didn’t belong.
Erika said to me one day, “You’re useless, just like your mother!” I was done. “Don’t talk about my mother!” I screamed.
My dad stepped in and told me I was rude to Erika. I was sure something was wrong, though. Why did Erika have the right to say bad things about my mum?
As the years went by, I felt more and more alone. My mum and dad would go on trips without me, leaving me to handle things on my own. I thought I was a bother.
Erika breaking the last straw was when she came into my room and decided to take down a picture of my mum. She said in a mean way, “You need to move on.”
My dad stepped in and took Erika’s side when I lost it. That’s when I knew I had to get away.
I ran away to our old village to find out what was going on. As I walked around the city, I came across a poor woman who looked a lot like my mother.
“Are you Emma Fraser?” I asked with reluctance.
She looked at me with wide eyes and turned around. She asked, “Do you know who I am?”
“I feel like you could be my mother,” I said, my voice shaking.
We hugged while tears were running down our faces. My mum told me that my dad had lied, asked for a divorce, and stolen our money. She had looked for me for many years.
We began again as a group. By changing my last name to Fraser, I separated myself from my dad’s name.
Our get-together taught me that the truth will win in the end. Some people may be able to trick others, but goodness will always win.
My story shows that family is more than blood ties; it’s about love and the bonds we make with each other. And sometimes we have to be brave and keep going until we find the truth and where we fit.
