The Reunion That Healed More Than I Expected

I was born when my mother was just 17.

She made the difficult choice to give me up for adoption, hoping that I’d have a better life.

For years, I wondered who she was and what my life might’ve been like if we’d stayed together.

When I turned 20, I finally found her — and reached out with hope and trembling hands.

As she opened the door, I saw tears in her eyes, but her words broke my heart.

“Forget about me,” she whispered. “My husband is powerful, and he’d leave me if he knew about you.”