There Was No Doubt About It
Mrs. Contreras’ eyes moved from the birthmark on Elizabeth’s arm to her bright blue gaze. As she stood there holding the girl, she realized that there was no doubt about her assumption.
The girl that had come to that chapel to marry her son was someone she was looking for. Someone she herself had lost twenty-five years ago.
What was she going to do about her discovery?
Twenty-Five Years Ago
It all started twenty-five years ago. Mrs. Contreras was thirty-eight years old at the time. And she had a beautiful two-year-old daughter with her husband, Jonathan.
It was the happiest point of her life, and she couldn’t have asked for more.
But tragedy was about to strike, and it would change Mrs. Contreras’ life forever.
Family Vacation
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The small family had decided to take their first vacation together. Summer had just begun, and they had made plans to visit Hawaii for about a week.
It would be their daughter’s first trip out of state, and she was very excited about it.
If only they knew what would happen while they were away.
A Week Away
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The family left their home state of North Dakota early on Friday morning. It was going to be a long flight, which is never easy with a child as young as theirs.
But ten and a half hours later, they arrived at their destination, and the fun could finally begin.
Their young daughter was amazed by everything she saw. And that was how things went wrong.
About Halfway Through
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They were about three days into their vacation. Two of those days were spent on the beach, and the third day was reserved for sightseeing.
The family was walking through the packed city when something went terribly wrong.
What happened there that day would haunt them for the rest of their lives. What happened to change their lives forever?
Such Tragedy
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Mrs. Contreras let go of her daughter’s hand for just a moment. She needed that hand to get her wallet from her bag, so she could pay for the snacks they bought.
She thought everything would be fine. But when she turned around, the two-year-old was gone.
The couple pushed their way through the crowd, calling their daughter’s name as they went. But there was no sign of the little girl.
They Tried Everything
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Jonathan stayed in the city to search for their daughter as his wife made her way to the local police station. She told the officers what had happened, and within an hour, the streets were filled with police.
Everyone was looking for the toddler, but she was nowhere to be found. What happened to her? Did she get lost? Or was she taken?
Staying A Week Longer
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With a police investigation underway and a massive piece of land to search, the couple decided to extend their trip by a week.
There was no way they would be leaving Hawaii without their daughter.
Well, at least that was what they thought at the time. But they would soon discover that they had no other choice.
There Was No Sign Of Her
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The week came and went, but there was still no sign of the little girl. The police had done all they could, and they had told the couple that the chances of survival were slim.
The time had come for them to accept the facts. It didn’t matter how long they stayed.
The probability of them finding their daughter was nonexistent.
Sad Return
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With heavy hearts and a promise from the local police station, the couple went back home. But they never lost hope.
They thought their daughter would be found within a matter of days. They had no idea how wrong they actually were.
Jonathan would never see the sweet girl who stole his heart again. But would his wife?
Years Crawled By
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Days turned to weeks. Weeks quickly became months, and before they knew it, years had passed. But there was still no sign of their daughter.
The case had gone cold, and the investigations had stopped. But the couple never gave up.
Deep down, they hoped their daughter was still alive and that she would return to them someday.
A Strained Relationship
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But as time passed, the disappearance of their little girl started putting strain on their relationship. Jonathan loved his wife dearly, but he couldn’t stand being near her.
Something inside of him was still blaming her. If she didn’t let go of her daughter’s hand, none of this would have happened. He knew that and so did she.
It Was Just Too Much
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The whole situation was taking its toll on Jonathan. He tried not to show it, and because of that, it was affecting him more than it should have.
Losing his only child had broken him in more ways than one. And that was starting to show.
One morning, Jonathan woke up feeling sick, and things only became worse from there.
He Started Deteriorating
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His mind was spinning, and nausea had overwhelmed him, but for the strong man, that was the beginning of the end. The doctors tried everything, but nothing they did seemed to work.
Jonathan started deteriorating after that. None of the medications the doctors gave worked. And in the end, his daughter’s disappearance brought him to his knees.
By The Fourth Year
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Four years after the two-year-old went missing, her father passed away from stress cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome.
Her disappearance and the lack of evidence was just too much for him to bear. And in the end, it cost him his life. But it was just as hard on her mother.
Sadly, she had to survive the loss of the two most important people in her life. What happened to Mrs. Contreras?
She Was Devastated
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Mrs. Contreras was devastated by the loss of her husband. When her daughter went missing, she tried to stay strong, so she could be there for Jonathan.
But now that he was gone as well, she felt defeated. Her world was collapsing around her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Or was there?
A Year Of Mourning
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Mrs. Contreras spent the next year mourning her losses. Her heart ached for the family she had lost, and for the longest time, she was stuck in a deep depression.
For a while there, Mrs. Contreras thought she would suffer the same fate as her husband.
ut life had something else in store for her. And it would turn her world upside down.
An Unyielding Urge
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After her mourning period came to an end, Mrs. Contreras had this urge to do something with her life. She had spent the last five years trying to deal with her losses, and it felt like she had achieved nothing.
She wanted that to change. She wanted meaning to return to her life, and she thought she knew how to do it.
She Wanted To Help
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Mrs. Contreras felt the need to help someone. A child specifically. She knew there were countless children out there who had lost their families, just as she had lost hers.
Was it possible for her to give one of them a new life? Could she become a mother again? Did she have the strength for that?
She Wanted Company
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Mrs. Contreras wasn’t as young as she used to be anymore. She was already forty-three, and dealing with a young child had its moments.
But she was also lonely. She thought she would have everything when she reached that age.
But instead, she lost it all. She just wanted someone to keep her company during her final years.
Applying For Adoption
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With that thought in mind, Mrs. Contreras went to the local adoption center and applied.
She wasn’t sure if she would be accepted as she was a single woman, but it was worth the shot.
It was only once she had filled out the application that she was told what the process actually involved. And that was when she started wondering if she had made the right decision.
A Lengthy Process
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The process was a lengthy one with multiple steps that needed to be completed before she would even be considered a suitable candidate.
Mrs. Contreras had to prove multiple things, and there was one incident that could have her thrown out of the pool in an instant.
Losing a child is not considered good parenting, and that stained her record.
So Much To Prove
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Mrs. Contreras had to prove a lot more than other people would. She spent the next few weeks getting police reports and bank statements with the hope that they would understand her situation.
Luckily, her caseworker was incredibly supportive and told her about all the information that could help prove her case. But would it be enough?
She Had Almost Given Up
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After submitting all the documentation, Mrs. Contreras had to wait. Months had gone by, and she was just about to give up when she received a call from her caseworker.
The agency had a boy. Up until that point, they couldn’t put him up for adoption, but the time had come, and they were wondering if Mrs. Contreras would be interested.
A Young Boy
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Mrs. Contreras agreed to meet the young man and see if they got along.
She went to the center the very next day and was introduced to Christopher Davis, a ten-year-old boy with a history as long as hers.
The young man opened up quite easily, and before long, he was sharing his story. It was one that would crush Mrs. Contreras.
His Story
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Christopher told Mrs. Contreras that he was taken in by the center a year ago.
They had found him in an abandoned building on the outskirts of town.
That was where his parents left him when he became too much to handle. And by that, he meant that they had to pay school fees and buy him food.
They Couldn’t Wait
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In that year, the agency had tried to track his parents down with the hope of getting them to sign over custody. But they were long gone.
They said that they were coming to North Dakota on vacation and left before the boy woke up.
So the center kept him and waited for the court to hand over custody to them.
That had just happened, and they needed to find him a home right away.
She Needed To Choose
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The caseworker told Mrs. Contreras that she would have to make a choice that very day.
They were having an open day on the weekend, and even though people preferred younger children, there was a chance that he would get picked by someone else.
He was the only one available to her at the time. And if she wanted the chance, she needed to take it.
Harsh System
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Mrs. Contreras was torn. She was hoping for a younger child, a girl, so she could make up for the years that she had lost with her own daughter.
But she also knew that this might be her only chance. And if Christopher remained in the system, he would have a harsh life.
Orphans didn’t have an easy time, and he might end up staying there for the rest of his childhood.
Her Mind Was Made Up
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Mrs. Contreras looked over at the sad young boy, and she knew that her mind was made up. She would not be leaving the center without him.
He might not have been exactly what she was looking for.
But he was a child in need, and she was a mother who wanted to help. So she agreed to the adoption.
Loving Home
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For the first time in years, Mrs. Contreras felt like she had a loving home again. Young Christopher was a sweet, innocent boy who only wanted to help his adoptive mother.
He was incredibly grateful for the home he was given, and he showed it daily.
He did his chores and even some extra work around the house to show his gratitude.
Strong Relationship
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Mrs. Contreras and her son quickly formed an unbreakable bond. He was as much of a son to her as she was a mother to him.
They shared everything and had the best mother-son relationship Mrs. Contreras could’ve asked for.
But there was one problem with this situation that she never took into consideration. What was it?
One Problem
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Christopher was ten years old when he was adopted, and that presented Mrs. Contreras with a problem she didn’t think she would have.
The boy was growing up fast. Too fast for her liking.
They had so much fun together that she didn’t feel the years passing, and before she knew it, he was all grown up.
Before She Knew It
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Before Mrs. Contreras knew it, Christopher’s eighteenth birthday had arrived. And not long after that, he was twenty-three.
The years had passed them by, and Mrs. Contreras knew that it was only a matter of time before her little bird left the nest.
That was something she wasn’t ready for. She hoped she could hold on for a little while longer, but she couldn’t hold on to him forever.
A Big Decision
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A few days after his twenty-fourth birthday, Christopher approached his mother.
He told her that he had been offered a job. At first, Mrs. Contreras was delighted, but her mood would quickly change.
Christopher had always wanted to be a logger, so the opportunity he was offered was the deal of a lifetime. The only problem was that the job was in Montana.
It Would Be Hard
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Mrs. Contreras was devastated. She never thought she’d have to be alone again, and now her son was leaving. And he wouldn’t just be a couple of hours’ drive away.
He’d be so far that they would take a flight every time they wanted to see each other.
And she knew that flights would only last so long. Then it would be a miracle if she saw her son at all.
Putting Her Feelings Aside
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But Mrs. Contreras knew that she couldn’t force her son to give up his dreams for her happiness.
This was something he wanted since he was a little boy, and he had worked hard to make his dreams come true.
So she put her feelings aside. She knew that it was for the best. And she would do whatever it took to keep their relationship strong.
A Supportive Mother
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Mrs. Contreras could see that her son was delighted by her support. She had helped him gather his things and even bought him a few things for his first apartment.
They still had some time together, and she wanted to make the most of it. Plus, she wanted him to have a bit of his mother wherever he went.
But their time was coming to an end, and there was nothing she could do about it.
One Sad Day
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The big day had finally arrived. Christopher’s tickets were booked, and he’d be getting on a plane in less than three hours. Mrs. Contreras’ heart was crushed, but she tried her best to hide it.
She was sure she’d see him again. And if she didn’t, she could always call. At least, that was what she told herself in an attempt to avoid the sad truth.
Long Goodbye
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Their goodbye was a long one. Mrs. Contreras held on to her boy for as long as she could, and he let her. She could tell that Christopher didn’t really want to let go either.
But at the same time, he didn’t want to stay. He was all grown up now, and the time had come for him to start a life of his own. If only Mrs. Contreras knew what that meant.
Time Ticked By
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For Mrs. Contreras, each day that passed felt like an eternity. She was hoping to see her son again for Christmas, but the months before that stretched on like an eternity.
Christmas finally came, but sadly, her son couldn’t afford to come visit. That was when she realized that her worst fears were becoming a reality. Would she ever see Christopher again?
Before She Knew It
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Over time, Mrs. Contreras moved to Hawaii. Somewhere deep within her, she still hoped there was a chance of getting her daughter back. And that feeling only intensified after her son left.
But before she knew it, two years had passed since she last saw her son. And there was no hope of seeing him in the near future.
Things Had Changed
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She also realized that things had changed between them. The calls they had were few and far between, and Christopher was often too busy to respond to her texts.
Mrs. Contreras felt like she had been abandoned by everyone she loved. But that wasn’t the worst thing that was passing through her mind at the time.
Drifting Apart
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Mrs. Contreras felt like she and her son were drifting apart. Their inside jokes were nothing more than memories. And their endless conversations ceased to exist.
They were drifting apart, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. All she could do was hope and pray that she didn’t lose her son completely. Would that be the case?
She Missed Him
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There was no denying that Mrs. Contreras was missing her son. She hadn’t seen him in over two years, and she was lucky if she spoke to him once a month.
This left her feeling miserable and sad. She never wanted things to go this far. But they did, and she desperately needed to put it to an end.
Should She Visit?
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Mrs. Contreras considered going to visit her son. She knew he wasn’t making enough to come visit her, but she had been saving, and she should have enough for a return ticket.
She looked up all the flights during the winter period and found that, if she budgeted properly, she would be able to stay for a week. Would her son appreciate a surprise visit?
Thinking It Through
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That was a question Mrs. Contreras couldn’t answer. She didn’t know if her son really didn’t have the time for her or if he just didn’t want to see her. Maybe he was trying to avoid her.
And if that weren’t the case, would he even have the time to see her at all? Or would she just be wasting money on the trip?
Before She Could Act
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Before Mrs. Contreras could make up her mind, she received a call from Christopher. He was delighted to inform her that he had gotten a new girlfriend a few months prior, and things were getting serious between them.
He had felt the time had come for them to meet each other because he wanted his mother’s opinion.
Fantastic News
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Mrs. Contreras was delighted by the news. This was the first time Christopher was in a serious relationship, and his mother was happy about the fact that he had some company.
She also wanted to meet the girl, especially after her son told her that he wanted them to take the next step in their relationship.
Their First Meeting
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That night, Mrs. Contreras sat down behind her laptop and anxiously waited for her son’s face to appear on the screen.
She hadn’t seen him in ages, and she wanted to make sure that he was okay before moving on to the rest.
She waited for about half an hour, and then it finally happened. Christopher joined the call, and seated next to him was a beautiful young woman.
First Impressions
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From the minute Mrs. Contreras laid eyes on the girl, she knew that Elizabeth was the perfect woman for her son. She was kind and gentle, if not a little shy.
She was his complete opposite, and Mrs. Contreras knew how well relationships like that worked out. She was in one herself.
Jonathan was nothing like her, and that was what made them such a strong couple.
She Liked It
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Mrs. Contreras liked what she saw. She could tell that her son was happy, and that was more than she possibly could’ve asked for.
Elizabeth definitely gave him what he wanted and needed, but he still had his fears. He was about to take the biggest step yet, and he needed to know what his mother thought before he did.
A Good Woman
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After the meeting, Christopher sent his mom a text, asking her what she thought of Elizabeth. Mrs. Contreras was honest in her response.
She told her son that she thought Elizabeth was a good woman. And that she was a great match for her son. Then he asked her something she never thought he would ask.
No Objections
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Christopher asked his mom if she had any objections to their relationship or his decision to ask for Elizabeth’s hand. Mrs. Contreras swallowed the lump that clogged up her throat.
She told her son that she had no objections, but she couldn’t base her decision on one meeting. She suggested that he wait a little while before popping the question.
Getting Familiar
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Over the next few months, Mrs. Contreras spent a lot of time talking to Elizabeth. The girl messaged her whenever she wanted to do something for Christopher.
When she heard that he loved his mother’s lasagna, she asked for the recipe.
When he was sick, she asked for advice. And before long, the two of them were thick as thieves.
A Year Later
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And a year later, Christopher finally did what he was waiting for. Mrs. Contreras was invited to a video call, and once she joined, she saw her son proposing to the woman of his dreams.
Of course, the answer was a yes. Mrs. Contreras didn’t expect anything else.
But it was nice to be a part of their special moment. If only she knew what her son had in store for her.
The Big Day
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The big day had finally arrived, and Mrs. Contreras was walking on clouds. Her son was having his wedding in Hawaii, and he planned on spending his honeymoon there too.
Tears filled her eyes as she watched him stand at the altar, his gaze glowing with delight as his bride appeared before him. But things were about to take a drastic turn.
Meeting In Person
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When the time came for the after-party, Mrs. Contreras finally got a chance to meet her daughter-in-law in person. She had no idea what she was in for.
Mrs. Contreras saw the happy couple speaking to someone else and approached. But as she got closer, she saw something that knocked the air from her lungs.
Noticing Something
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Mrs. Contreras stopped in her tracks as she saw the big birthmark Elizabeth had on the back of her left arm. She had seen that birthmark before. The last time she saw it was in Hawaii.
Mrs. Contreras could hardly breathe as the revelation hit her like a wrecking ball. Had she finally found her long-lost daughter?
Could It Be?
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With a sense of urgency, Mrs. Contreras grabbed Elizabeth by the arm. “Were you adopted as a child?” she asked, her heart slamming against her chest.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said as a confused look etched into her face. “My parents found me in an alley in Honolulu. Since my biological parents couldn’t be found, I was put up for adoption.” Tears ran down Mrs. Contreras’ face as she whispered, “It’s true… You’re my daughter.”
In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
The post Mom Attends Son’s Wedding, Realizes Bride Is Her Daughter appeared first on Top5.
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