At seventeen, Sophie discovered she was pregnant, a shocking revelation that sent her world spiraling. The reaction from her adoptive parents was swift and harsh.
“Get out of here!”
The words struck her like a whip, slicing through the air with a force she couldn’t comprehend.
Stumbling back, her hands instinctively rose to cover her tear-streaked face.
“You vile and abominable sinner!” Lorna, her adoptive mother, shrieked, her voice quaking with a mix of fury and self-righteousness. “I will not allow you to be in this house with your innocent siblings!”
Sophie turned to her father, Harold, desperately searching for a flicker of compassion in his eyes. Her silent plea screamed, “Please, help me. Don’t let her do this.”
But Harold couldn’t meet her gaze. His shoulders sagged, and his eyes darted to the floor, the embodiment of defeat. He had never gone against Lorna, and it was clear he had no intention of starting now.
Lorna grasped Sophie’s arm, pushing her toward the door. “The sins of your mother have caught up with you!” she hissed. “I should have known you would turn out just like her—a loose woman!”
Each word felt like a knife, cutting deeper than the last.
Once on the curb, the door slammed shut behind her. Sophie sat there, shaking, tears flowing freely. In that heartbreaking moment, the only home she had ever known was ripped away from her.
A few minutes later, Harold emerged from the shadows, clutching a tattered backpack that looked hastily packed.
“Your sister packed a few things for you,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small roll of cash. “This is all I could manage without Lorna finding out. Sophie, I’m so sorry. But you know how your mother is…”
“No! She is not my mother!” Sophie interrupted, her voice rising. “And you’re not my father! You promised to love me no matter what. That’s what true parents do!”
His face flushed with shame. He glanced at her for a brief moment before turning away, retreating back inside without another word.
Sophie’s heart raced as she clutched the rucksack to her chest.
A Troubled Past
Adopted by the Jordans when she was young, Sophie had grown up alongside four other children, believing they were a decent family. They were strict, but she had thought they were good. Yet their rigid beliefs stifled her; they were religious extremists who forbade celebrating birthdays or Christmas, deeming such festivities sinful.
Her life consisted of school during the week and church on Sundays. Social activities were non-existent—no movies, no parties, no lipstick. As a teenager, her curiosity morphed into a rebellious spirit. She longed to experience the simple joys her peers took for granted—going to the movies, wearing pretty dresses, holding hands with a boy.
This yearning led her to make risky choices. The first boy who showed her genuine interest was the worst possible choice, a troublemaker with a notorious reputation. Within months, Sophie found herself staring at a positive pregnancy test.
And just like that, Lorna had pushed her out of the house.
The Weight of Loneliness
Sitting alone on the curb, Sophie tried to suppress her anxiety. She opened her backpack, revealing a few shirts, a toothbrush, and a pair of jeans. Counting the cash Harold had given her, she found a mere fifty-six dollars and some change—not nearly enough for even one night in a cheap motel.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she whispered bitterly, “There are no miracles left. No guardian angel to keep me safe.”
The thought stung. As a child, she had secretly believed someone was watching over her. On her birthdays, she would find small gifts in her locker, and during Christmas, there would be candy canes tied with ribbons hanging from the tree outside her window.
That so-called “guardian angel” had never shown herself, but the kindness she received was real. Now, in her darkest hour, it felt like all hope had vanished.
Clinging to her backpack like a lifeline, Sophie made her way into the park, the sun setting around her. The rumbling in her stomach urged her to sit on a bench.
“Hey there, girl!” a friendly voice called out. “What’s got you looking like the world’s ended? Maybe Mama Rosa can help you.”
Sophie looked up to see a tall woman in a floral apron, holding a bouquet of roses in one hand and pruning shears in the other. Her brown hair was pulled back, and her warm smile was inviting.
“I’m… okay,” Sophie muttered, unsure.
“No, honey, you’re not,” Rosa replied, sitting down beside her. “But you can tell me. I’m not here to judge.”
There was something about Rosa’s calm and compassionate tone that melted Sophie’s defenses. She poured out her story—the pregnancy, the expulsion from her home, and her desperate lack of resources.
After listening intently, Rosa nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll give you a job,” she declared. “And I have a small apartment you can stay in. But you’ll need to take care of your child yourself.”
Sophie blinked in disbelief. “A job? Really?”
“Absolutely,” Rosa said with a grin. “My flower stand is here in the park, and I’ve wanted to open another one near the shopping center for a while. I’ll teach you how to arrange flowers and sell them. You’ll be just fine.”
Tears of relief filled Sophie’s eyes, and she whispered, “I love flowers.”
“Then come on,” Rosa said, rising to her feet. “Let’s go see the apartment.”
A New Home
The apartment was cozy, with a clean bed, a small kitchen, and a window overlooking the city lights. To Sophie, it felt like a palace.
In the months that followed, Sophie poured her heart into her work at the flower stand. Customers adored her arrangements, and Rosa frequently praised her talent. Sophie even visited a doctor, who confirmed that both she and her baby were healthy.
Five months after the news of her pregnancy, Sophie gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, whom she named Daniel. Rosa allowed her three months off to adjust, but Sophie soon realized that motherhood was far more challenging than she had anticipated.
Daniel cried frequently, and Sophie barely slept, waking every couple of hours to feed or change him. Her body ached, and her mind felt foggy.
One morning, Sophie awoke to sunlight streaming through her curtains but found an eerie silence. Her heart raced.
“Daniel?” she called softly, rushing to the nursery.
There he was, sound asleep, his tiny fists clenched under his chin. His diaper was dry, and the bottle she had prepared for him the night before was empty.
“That’s… strange,” she muttered. Had she really slept through the night?
The following nights unfolded the same way, and her anxiety began to rise. Was she sleepwalking?
Determined to stay awake, she remained in bed, listening intently. Around three in the morning, Daniel let out a whimper. Sophie crept to the nursery door and froze.
A woman stood over the crib, her movements gentle and practiced as she spoke softly to Daniel.
Sophie flipped on the light. “Who are you? Get away from my baby!” she shouted.
Startled but unafraid, the woman turned to face her, cradling Daniel in her arms. “Hello, Sophie,” she whispered. “I’m Margaret Lawson, your mother.”
Sophie felt her knees weaken.
Margaret explained that she, too, had become pregnant as a teenager. “I was sixteen,” she said. “My mother wanted me to have an abortion, but I couldn’t go through with it. I was cast out, and I had no choice but to give you up.”
Tears filled Margaret’s eyes. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I couldn’t let go of you completely. I watched from a distance. The birthday gifts and Christmas treats? They were from me. I wanted you to know that someone loved you.”
Sophie’s heart raced. “Were you the angel who watched over me?”
Margaret smiled softly. “I couldn’t remain silent when you were kicked out. I asked Rosa, who works for me, to help you find a job and a place to stay. I own over thirty flower businesses, and this apartment was once my mother’s. Now it’s yours.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Sophie asked, her voice trembling.
“I was ashamed,” Margaret admitted, lowering her gaze. “I feared you would hate me for abandoning you. I wanted to ensure you and Daniel were okay without revealing myself too soon.”
Sophie stepped forward, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t hate you. If it weren’t for you and Rosa, I would have lost Daniel too.”
They embraced, a moment of profound connection and understanding.
From that day forward, they were inseparable. Margaret invited Sophie and Daniel to move into her larger home, allowing Sophie to experience the unconditional love of family for the first time.
It turned out that the guardian angel she had dreamed of for so long was real, patiently waiting for the right moment to reveal herself.
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