After losing my wife Emily in a plane crash, I learned to live with regret. I spent 23 years mourning my lost love, only to discover that fate had left me one more meeting with her and a jolting truth I’d never dreamed of.
I stood at Emily’s grave, my fingers tracing the cold marble headstone. Twenty-three years, and the pain still felt fresh. The roses I’d brought were bright against the gray stone, like drops of blood on snow.
A grieving man in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry, Em,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. “I should have listened.”
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. I almost ignored it, but habit made me check the screen.
“Abraham?” my business partner James’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Sorry to bother you on your cemetery visit day.”
“It’s fine.” I cleared my throat, trying to sound normal. “What’s up?”
“Our new hire from Germany lands in a few hours. Could you pick her up? I’m stuck in meetings all afternoon.”
A man holding a phone in a cemetery | Source: Midjourney
I glanced at Emily’s headstone one last time. “Sure, I can do that.”
“Thanks, buddy. Her name’s Elsa. Flight lands at 2:30.”
“Text me the flight details. I’ll be there.”
The arrivals hall buzzed with activity as I held up my hastily made sign reading “ELSA.”
A young woman with honey-blonde hair caught my eye and walked over, pulling her suitcase. Something about her movement and the way she carried herself made my heart skip a beat.
A young woman in an airport waving her hand | Source: Midjourney
“Sir?” Her accent was slight but noticeable. “I’m Elsa.”
“Welcome to Chicago, Elsa. Please, call me Abraham.”
“Abraham.” She smiled, and for a moment, I felt dizzy. That smile reminded me so much of something I couldn’t quite pinpoint.
“Shall we get your luggage?” I asked quickly, pushing the thought away.
On the drive to the office, she spoke about her move from Munich and her excitement about the new job. There was something familiar about her laugh and the way her eyes crinkled at the corners.
A man driving a car | Source: Midjourney
“I hope you don’t mind,” I said, “but the team usually does lunch together on Thursdays. Would you like to join us?”
“That would be wonderful! In Germany, we say ‘Lunch makes half the work.'”
I laughed. “We say something similar here… ‘Time flies when you’re having lunch!'”
“That’s terrible!” She giggled. “I love it.”
At lunch, Elsa had everyone in stitches with her stories. Her sense of humor matched mine perfectly — dry, slightly dark, with perfect timing. It was uncanny.
A delighted woman laughing | Source: Midjourney
“You know,” Mark from accounting said, “you two could be related. Same weird jokes.”
I laughed it off. “She’s young enough to be my daughter. Besides, my wife and I never had children.”
The words tasted bitter in my mouth. Emily and I had wanted children so badly.
Over the next few months, Elsa proved herself invaluable at work. She had my eye for detail and determination. Sometimes, watching her work reminded me so much of my late wife that my chest would tighten.
A woman in an office | Source: Midjourney
“Abraham?” Elsa knocked on my office door one afternoon. “My mother’s visiting from Germany next week. Would you like to join us for dinner? She’s dying to meet my new American family. I mean, my boss!”
I smiled at her choice of words. “I’d be honored.”
The restaurant the following weekend was quiet and elegant. Elsa’s mother, Elke, was studying me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. When Elsa excused herself to the restroom, Elke’s hand shot out, gripping my shoulder with surprising strength.
“Don’t you dare look at my daughter that way,” she hissed.
A furious senior woman frowning | Source: Midjourney
I jerked back. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I know everything about you, Abraham. Everything.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“Let me tell you a story,” she interrupted, her voice dropping to a whisper. Her eyes held mine, and suddenly I couldn’t look away. “A story about love, betrayal, and second chances.”
Elke leaned forward, her fingers wrapped around her wine glass. “Once, there was a woman who loved her husband more than life itself. They were young, passionate, and full of dreams.”
“I don’t see what this has to do with—”
An anxious man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Listen,” she commanded softly. “This woman wanted to give her husband something special. You see, there was an old friend… someone who’d had a falling out with her husband years ago. She thought, ‘What better gift than to heal old wounds?’“
My heart began to pound as Elke continued.
“She reached out to this friend, Patrick. Remember that name, Abraham? They met in secret, planning a surprise reconciliation for her husband’s birthday.”
The room seemed to spin. “How do you know about Patrick?”
A man gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney
She continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “Then, just before the birthday celebration, she discovered something wonderful. She was pregnant. For a brief moment, everything was perfect. A baby, a reconciled friendship, a complete family… Just perfect.”
Her voice cracked. “But then came the photographs. Her husband’s sister, always so protective and jealous, brought them to him. Pictures of his wife walking with Patrick, talking, laughing, their secret meetings at the park. Everything. And instead of asking, instead of trusting the woman he claimed to love, he just—”
“Stop!” I whispered.
A shocked man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
“He threw her out,” Elke continued. “Wouldn’t take her calls. Wouldn’t let her explain that she’d been planning his birthday surprise, that Patrick had agreed to come to the party, to make peace after all these years.”
Tears were running down her face now. “She tried to end it all. She wanted to just run away somewhere where nobody knew her. But her employer found her and got her help. Arranged for her to leave the country and start fresh. But the plane—”
“The plane crashed,” I finished, my voice hollow.
An airplane | Source: Unsplash
“Yes. The plane crashed. She was found with another passenger’s ID — a woman named Elke who hadn’t survived. Her face was unrecognizable. Required multiple surgeries to reconstruct. And all the while, she carried a child. Your child, Abraham.”
“EMILY?” The name came out as a broken whisper. “You’re ali—”
“ALIVE!” She nodded slowly, and I saw it then. Those eyes… beneath the different face, the changed features. Those same eyes I’d fallen in love with 25 years ago.
“And Elsa?”
A smiling senior woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney
“Is your daughter.” She took a shaky breath. “When she told me about her wonderful new boss in Chicago and showed me your picture, I knew I had to come. I was afraid…”
“Afraid of what?”
“That history might repeat itself. That you might fall for her, not knowing who she was. The universe has a cruel sense of humor sometimes.”
I sat back, stunned. “All these months… the similar sense of humor, the familiar gestures. Jesus Christ! I was working alongside my own daughter?”
An emotional man | Source: Midjourney
“She has so much of you in her,” Emily said softly. “Your determination, your creativity. Even that terrible pun habit of yours.”
Elsa returned to find us both silent, tears streaming down my face. Emily took her hand.
“Sweetheart, we need to talk outside. There’s something you need to know. Come with me.”
They were gone for what felt like hours. I sat there, memories flooding back — Emily’s smile the day we met, our first dance, and the last terrible fight. Memories crashed over me like a boulder, and my head started to ache.
A stunned man holding his head | Source: Midjourney
When they returned, Elsa’s face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed. She stood there, staring at me like she was seeing a ghost.
“DAD?”
I nodded, unable to speak. She crossed the distance between us in three steps and threw her arms around my neck. I held her tight, breathing in the scent of her hair, feeling 23 years of loss and love crash over me at once.
“I always wondered,” she whispered against my shoulder. “Mom never talked about you, but I always felt like something was missing.”
A young woman in a bustling restaurant | Source: Midjourney
The weeks that followed were a blur of long conversations, shared memories, and tentative steps forward. Emily and I met for coffee, trying to bridge the gulf of years between us.
“I don’t expect things to go back to how they were,” she said one afternoon, watching Elsa through the café window as she parked her car. “Too much time has passed. But maybe we can build something new… for her sake.”
I watched my daughter — God, my daughter — walk toward us, her smile brightening the room. “I was so wrong, Emily. About everything,” I turned to my wife.
An emotional man looking outside | Source: Midjourney
“We both made mistakes,” she said softly. “But look what we made first.” She nodded toward Elsa, who was now arguing playfully with the barista about the proper way to make a cappuccino.
One evening, as we sat in my backyard watching the sunset, Emily finally told me about the crash. Her voice trembled as she recounted those terrifying moments.
“The plane went down over the lake,” she said, her fingers tightening around her tea cup. “I was one of 12 survivors. When they pulled me from the water, I was barely conscious, clutching a woman named Elke’s passport. We’d been seated together, talking about our pregnancies. She was pregnant too. But she didn’t make it.”
A sad woman with her eyes closed | Source: Midjourney
Emily’s eyes grew distant. “The doctors said it was a miracle both the baby and I survived. Third-degree burns covered most of my face and upper body. During the months of reconstructive surgery, I kept thinking about you, about how fate had given me a new face and a new chance. But I was scared, Abraham. Scared you wouldn’t believe me. Scared you’d reject us again.”
“I would have known you,” I whispered. “Somehow, I would have known.”
She smiled sadly. “Would you? You worked with our daughter for months without recognizing her.”
A senior woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
The truth of her words stabbed me. I thought about all the little moments over the years: the dreams where Emily was trying to tell me something, the strange sense of familiarity when I met Elsa, and the way my heart seemed to recognize what my mind couldn’t grasp.
“When I was strong enough,” Emily continued, “Elke’s family in Munich took me in. They’d lost their daughter, and I’d lost everything. We helped each other heal. They became Elsa’s family too. They knew my story and kept my secret. It wasn’t just my choice to make anymore.”
Grayscale shot of a woman holding a baby girl | Source: Unsplash
I left that conversation with a new understanding of the woman I’d thought I knew.
And while our relationship would never be perfect, I knew that sometimes the truth about people isn’t as clear as we think. Sometimes it takes 23 years, a twist of fate, and a daughter’s laugh to help us see what was there all along.
Finally, I understood something: Love isn’t about perfect endings.It’s about second chances and finding the courage to rebuild from the ashes of what was lost. And sometimes, if you’re very lucky, those ashes give birth to something even more beautiful than what came before.
A man smiling | Source: Midjourney
My Future Brother-in-Law Was Always a Pain, but He Went Too Far at Our Wedding and That Was the Last Straw for My Fiancé and Me — Story of the Day
My future brother-in-law was always a problem—rude, arrogant, and always pushing boundaries. But on my wedding day, he crossed a line we could never forgive. He humiliated me in front of everyone, turning my perfect day into a nightmare. That was the last straw, and my fiancé finally had enough.
When Michael and I first started dating, everything felt like a fairy tale. Not the perfect kind, but the kind with unexpected twists.
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Yes, I cried on our first date because I was late. I rushed into the restaurant, breathless and embarrassed.
My eyes welled up as I tried to explain—traffic, spilled coffee, a broken shoe. Michael sat there, silent, clearly unsure of what to do.
We made it through dinner, but he didn’t call me for a week. I assumed I had scared him off.
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Then we ran into each other at a mutual friend’s party. I explained myself, saying I was just an emotional person. To my surprise, he understood and admitted he was the same.
That party was six years ago, and we had been inseparable ever since. I was no longer crying alone over movies where animals died—Michael cried with me. He was my soulmate, and I knew he felt the same.
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Our relationship moved quickly. After just three months, we moved in together, and that’s how we lived for six years.
But somehow, we never got around to planning a wedding. There was always something—either I had a crisis, or Michael did—so we kept postponing it.
Then, eight months ago, Michael proposed. He planned everything so well that I didn’t suspect a thing, making the moment even more special. Not that I needed a proposal to know I wanted to spend my life with him.
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But, like with any couple, there was one problem. His family. More specifically—his brother, Jordan.
Jordan was awful. Rude, arrogant, and full of himself. He thought he was better than everyone, including Michael.
He was only three years older but never missed a chance to remind Michael that he was the older brother.
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I still remember our first meeting. Michael took me to meet his parents, and since Jordan still lived with them—yes, even as an adult—he was there too. So much for being as “amazing” as he thought he was.
At first, everything seemed fine. We had a polite conversation. But when I stepped away to use the bathroom, Jordan was waiting by the door.
“Bored yet?” Jordan asked, his voice low and smug.
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I stiffened. “No, I’m fine,” I replied, keeping my tone polite but firm.
He chuckled. “Come on, let’s go have some fun,” he suggested, stepping closer.
I took a small step back. “No, really, I’m good,” I said cautiously. A strange feeling crept up my spine.
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Jordan tilted his head. “Oh, come on. My brother doesn’t deserve someone like you.
You’d have a much better time with me,” he said. His voice was smooth, but his eyes held something cold.
Before I could react, he grabbed me by the waist. His hand slid lower, pressing against my backside.
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“Get off me!” I shouted, shoving him away. My heart pounded as I rushed back to the dining room, my breath shaky.
Michael looked up as I approached. I placed a hand on my stomach, forcing a weak smile. “I don’t feel great. Can we leave?”
Michael stood immediately. “Of course.”
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His parents looked concerned. “It was so nice to meet you, Danica,” they said as we hugged goodbye.
Once we were in the car, Michael glanced at me. “Are you okay? Did you eat something bad?”
I took a deep breath. “Jordan hit on me,” I said.
Michael’s hands tightened on the wheel. “What? That jerk!” His jaw clenched. “I’m going to talk to him.”
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Michael did talk to Jordan, but Jordan laughed it off. He claimed he was just “testing me” as Michael’s older brother, as if that excused his behavior. I didn’t believe him for a second, but Michael didn’t push back.
Sometimes, I wondered if he was afraid of Jordan. Growing up, Jordan had bullied and teased him constantly.
He always found ways to make Michael feel small, like he was less than him. Their relationship had never been close, but Michael still tried to keep the peace.
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But when Jordan wouldn’t stop, even Michael had to admit it wasn’t a joke anymore.
Then the messages started. Inappropriate texts. Unwanted pictures. Disgusting words. I blocked his number.
When I told Michael I didn’t want Jordan at our wedding, he agreed right away.
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One evening, Michael came home looking drained. He sighed and dropped onto the couch beside me, his shoulders heavy with tension.
“What happened?” I asked, noticing the way his shoulders slumped.
He rubbed his face and let out a long breath. “I talked to my parents. They said if Jordan isn’t invited to the wedding, they won’t come either.” His voice was quiet, heavy with frustration.
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I felt a sharp sting in my chest. “That’s not fair!” I said, my hands tightening into fists.
“I know,” Michael murmured, staring at the floor.
“The way he treats me is reason enough for me not to want him there. He harassed me, sent disgusting messages. Why does that not matter to them?” My voice wavered.
Michael didn’t answer. He just sat there, looking lost.
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I exhaled, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “Fine. We’ll invite Jordan,” I said, my voice tight.
Michael lifted his head. “Are you sure?”
“Not that we have much of a choice. But your parents need to make sure I don’t have to see him,” I said firmly.
Michael wrapped his arms around me. “You’re the best,” he whispered.
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The wedding day finally arrived. My heart was so full I thought it might burst.
I had dreamed about this moment for years, and now it was finally here. I was marrying the man I loved more than anything, and nothing could ruin my day. Not stress, not nerves, not even Jordan.
Or so I thought.
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I was in the bridal room at the church, standing in front of the mirror as my bridesmaids helped me with the final touches.
The dress was perfect. Everything was perfect. Then, there was a knock at the door.
Smiling, I turned to open it. My breath caught when I saw Jordan standing there.
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“What are you—” Before I could finish, he lifted a bucket and, in one swift motion, dumped its contents over me. Cold, sticky liquid drenched my dress, my skin, my hair.
“This is for rejecting me, witch,” he sneered.
I gasped. The smell of paint hit me first. Bright green dripped from my arms. My beautiful white gown was ruined.
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“Are you insane?!” I screamed, my voice shaking.
Jordan only laughed, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction, then slammed the door in my face.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the chair, sobbing. My bridesmaids rushed in, their faces horrified.
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“Oh my God,” one of them whispered.
“We need water,” another said, grabbing a towel.
They scrubbed at my dress, but the paint had already soaked in. There was no saving it.
Stacy grabbed my shoulders. “Stay here. I’ll find a white dress—anything.” She ran out before I could answer.
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I wiped my face, but more tears came. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
I couldn’t stop crying. I had spent months picking out my wedding dress, searching for the perfect one, imagining how I would look walking down the aisle.
Now, I’d have to wear something I had never even seen before. My hair was completely green, streaks of paint clinging to the strands. My bridesmaids worked quickly, pinning it up and covering it with my veil.
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“It’ll be okay,” one of them whispered.
“We’ll wash it after the ceremony,” another promised.
The ceremony was already supposed to have started, but Stacy was still missing.
The minutes dragged on, each one heavier than the last. My bridesmaids paced, checking the time, whispering in worried tones.
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Finally, the door burst open. Stacy came running into the room, breathless, her face flushed. In her hands, she held a surprisingly beautiful dress.
“Jordan told everyone you ran away. Michael is freaking out,” she blurted.
I froze. My stomach twisted.
“HE DID WHAT?!” I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls.
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Stacy nodded. “People are whispering. Michael looks like he’s about to pass out.”
I clenched my fists. My chest burned with anger. “That’s it. I’ve had enough.”
I reached up, ripped off my veil, and let my green-streaked hair fall loose. Gasps filled the room. My bridesmaids stared, wide-eyed.
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Without another word, I stormed out. My dress stuck to my skin, the paint dry in some places, still dripping in others.
As I stepped into the church, heads turned. People whispered. My heart pounded, but I pushed forward.
Michael stood at the altar, his hands clenched, his face pale. He looked devastated.
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“I didn’t run away!” I shouted. My voice cut through the murmurs.
Michael’s head snapped up. “Danica?” He rushed down the aisle and pulled me into his arms.
Tears stung my eyes, but I forced them back. “Jordan poured green paint on me,” I said, stepping back and gesturing to my ruined dress. “Then he lied and told everyone I left!”
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Michael’s jaw tightened. He turned, scanning the room. “Jordan! Care to explain?!” His voice was sharp.
Jordan leaned back in his chair, smirking. “It was just a harmless joke,” he said, shrugging.
“That’s not a joke! No one is laughing! We’re all on edge as it is!” Michael snapped.
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“Whoa, little brother, calm down,” Jordan said, his tone mocking.
Michael squared his shoulders. “I’m not five anymore. You don’t have control over me.”
Jordan chuckled. “Yet here I am, at your wedding.”
“Get out!” I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.
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Jordan raised an eyebrow. “I was invited. I’m not leaving.”
Michael took a step forward. “Get out!” he repeated, his voice firm. “Or I’ll throw you out myself.”
“Michael, he’s your brother,” his mother interjected, standing abruptly.
Michael turned to her. “If you support what he did, you can leave too,” he said without hesitation.
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His mother’s face paled. “But Michael—” she started.
“Out!” Michael commanded. His voice was final.
A tense silence filled the church. His parents exchanged a glance, then grabbed Jordan and walked out without another word.
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Michael turned back to me, his eyes softening. He pulled me close, resting his forehead against mine. “I was so scared,” he whispered.
I exhaled, feeling the weight of everything lift. “Thank you for standing up for me,” I said, my voice steady.
“From now on, always,” he promised.
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I thought marriage would bring us closer, but instead, we drifted apart. Silence filled our mornings, distance grew between us. Then, one day, a forgotten phone and a single message shattered my world: “Hi, Daddy.” A name I didn’t recognize. A word that changed everything. I had to know the truth—no matter the cost.
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.
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