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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
A mother is torn apart when she comes home and realizes her son doesn\u2019t recognize her anymore. But there\u2019s more to it than meets the eye, and reality hits her hard when the truth is revealed.<\/p>\n
Do you believe in fairy tales? Emily didn\u2019t until she met John at the Brooklyn cafe she worked at. She\u2019d been her usual self that day: her hair tied in a messy bun, a coffee-stained apron around her waist, ringing up orders and serving coffee and croissants.<\/p>\n
Then he walked up to the counter and requested a caramel latte, and as she placed the cup in front of him, he slipped a tissue toward her. There was a message on it that said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been coming here every day just to see you. I think you\u2019re gorgeous, and I\u2019d love to take you out for dinner, Emily. Pick you up after your shift at 8 tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Emily knew he was a regular there, and her cheeks grew pink as she read the note. She smiled as she nodded and slipped the tissue inside her jeans\u2019 back pocket. The next morning, she awoke in his arms in his apartment, and the rest was history.<\/p>\n
Emily and John were poles apart when it came to their background. John was a businessman, carrying forward the legacy of his grandfather and father, and Emily\u2019s world was so naive and simple and, in a way, sad and lonely.<\/p>\n
Her father had died, her mother was ill, and she was a college dropout saving up for her dream destination\u2014Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
A person who loves you will appreciate you for who you are and not only for your appearance.
\nEmily came from a humble background but had always dreamed big. She was waiting to reach LA and try her hands at modeling. If it didn\u2019t work out, she\u2019d pack her bags and return to Brooklyn and tell everyone she had been away for a holiday. But everything changed after John came into her life.<\/p>\n
After meeting him, Emily\u2019s dreams lost their significance. John was rich and showered her with the best of everything. She visited the spas and salons every week, and the Emily with the messy bun and ripped sneakers were long gone. She now donned branded outfits, carried expensive purses, and sported fancy stilettos.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Soon, he went down on one knee and proposed to her with an 18-carat diamond ring, and she gasped and said, \u201cYes! Yes! I will marry you!\u201d<\/p>\n
They had a barefoot beach wedding in Emily\u2019s once-dreamed vacation spot in LA, followed by a honeymoon at one of the most luxurious resorts. When they returned to Brooklyn after the honeymoon, Emily realized she was pregnant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoney,\u201d she said anxiously to John. \u201cI\u2026 I\u2019m pregnant, and I have no idea what to do!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are?\u201d John asked excitedly. \u201cOMG, babe, I\u2019m so happy! We\u2019re gonna be parents! Oh, Emily, I can\u2019t wait to hold that baby!\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily was nervous. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019m ready, John,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cWhat if I don\u2019t have maternal instincts? What if I can\u2019t be a good mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, hey, don\u2019t say that!\u201d John hugged her and assured her that she would become the best mother in the world, even joking that she would enjoy the nine months of motherhood so much that they would end up with a little tribe of children in the near future.<\/p>\n
Emily smiled because John was happy and decided to keep the pregnancy. Nine months later, when she held the little life in her arms and felt his heartbeat, she cried and realized John was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s lovely, babe,\u201d she said, tears running down her cheeks. \u201cHe\u2019s just perfect!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike his mother,\u201d John had said. \u201cWe\u2019re finally parents, Emily, and you\u2019re the most beautiful mother our son could ever have. Joel,\u201d he then said. \u201cJohn + Emily. We\u2019ll call him Joel!\u201d<\/p>\n
As John had said, Emily did become a wonderful mother. She loved Joel more than anything, and when John suggested he wasn\u2019t in favor of hiring a nanny, she gladly left everything behind to become a stay-at-home mom.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
But when Joel was three, things started changing. Emily was missing her old life. Not the Brooklyn cafe with the aroma of croissants, coffee, and baked goods. She was missing the social life she had become accustomed to since marrying John.<\/p>\n
When she first married him, Emily was a modest girl who aspired for big things in life. Then John let her into an unknown world where she dined at fancy restaurants, wore designer dresses, drank only the most premium wine, and socialized with billionaire wives.<\/p>\n
After becoming a mother, she no longer did any of that. And she no longer looked pretty either. Her belly was sagging, and she had stretch marks from the pregnancy. She gorged herself on cheeseburgers and cold drinks, and she and John rarely made love.<\/p>\n
At that point, Emily imagined everything she shouldn\u2019t have. She imagined John bringing a gorgeous woman home, brazenly confessing their affair, losing Joel, and returning to her old life at the Brooklyn cafe.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
No, Emily\u2019s mind protested. She wasn\u2019t going to let that happen. She had to go out and be the rich, attractive, and beautiful Emily again. So she called her mother and begged her to move in with them and care for Joel.<\/p>\n
\u201cMum, please,\u201d Emily begged. \u201cI don\u2019t trust a stranger with Joel, and John would hate it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut hun,\u201d her mother, Rosaline, argued. \u201cYou know my health isn\u2019t in the best shape, and it would be a great responsibility, Emily. I really won\u2019t be able to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Emily talked Rosaline into moving in with them, saying she would have the house helpers for assistance and that Joel would love her company.<\/p>\n
Rosaline couldn\u2019t argue much. She gave in and moved in with her daughter. John didn\u2019t mind it. He never minded anything, after all. He was too preoccupied even to notice what was brewing in Emily\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n
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\nFor illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Once Rosaline was well settled, Emily returned to her frivolous life. She was partying, drinking, and hanging out with the rich wives once again. She was also going to the gym and working out to get back into shape.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d gotten rid of the sweatpants she\u2019d been wearing all day at home and was back to wearing fancy dresses and expensive perfumes. \u201cYou smell great, babe!\u201d John complimented her as he held her in his arms one night. That night, they made love.<\/p>\n
Emily was beaming after just a few days of the new changes in her life, and her friends, Cassandra and Alice, were quick to notice that. \u201cYou are glowing, hun! What\u2019s the matter?\u201d they eagerly asked as they gathered for lunch one day.<\/p>\n
Emily was delighted. \u201cOh, it\u2019s this life I\u2019m living right now!\u201d she chirped, leaning back into her chair. \u201cMotherhood was really taking a toll on me, guys. Can you imagine being in a jumper all day long and doing the house chores?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way!\u201d Cassandra cried, rolling her eyes. \u201cYou know, I\u2019d made it very clear to my husband that I\u2019m returning to the gym as soon as I could after popping our baby out. And, well, he couldn\u2019t argue with that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChrist, let\u2019s not go there,\u201d Alice chimed in. \u201cI was depressed for weeks after giving birth! I missed my friends and these experiences\u2026 Going out, having fun, and now my husband and I use protection every time so that we don\u2019t end up with another child! Motherhood is not for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cassandra smirked. \u201cBy the way, Alice, haven\u2019t you been too busy booking your cosmetic treatments?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alice waved her hand dismissively. \u201cOh, come on! It\u2019s nothing!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you guys talking about?\u201d Emily asked. \u201cIs there anything I\u2019m missing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Cassandra! Babe, it\u2019s really nothing,\u201d Alice told Emily. \u201cThere\u2019s this doctor one of my friends introduced me to, and he\u2019s amazing! I\u2019m getting some procedures done\u2026 Getting my breasts bigger, and I really want thin lips. I just don\u2019t like how I look, so yeah, that\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWOW!\u201d Emily gasped. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYep,\u201d Alice said with a wink. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a surprise for my hubby.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily was sure she would never get those procedures done because she loved the way she looked, but months later, when she saw how different and amazing Alice looked, she had an insane idea of trying it.<\/p>\n
She booked an appointment with the doctor Alice\u2019s friend had suggested and decided to go for breast augmentation. Emily considered herself pretty, but she also considered herself flat-chested, hence the cosmetic treatment.<\/p>\n
However, when Rosaline discovered the doctor\u2019s brochure in Emily\u2019s room and learned what Emily was up to, she was shocked. \u201cIt\u2019ll look fake!\u201d she admitted bluntly. \u201cYou\u2019re beautiful just the way you are, Emily!\u201d<\/p>\n
But Emily rolled her eyes and dismissed her mother. \u201cCome on, Mum! When was the last time a man looked at you? You practically stopped dating after Dad died! I don\u2019t want my husband to cheat on me because he thinks I\u2019m not pretty enough! I\u2019m just going to be a better version of myself!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI brought you into this world, Emily, and as a mother, I\u2019d still advise you to think this through. Anyhow, honey, those things would require constant injections, and Lord knows what else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I might just get my cheekbones and nose done, too!\u201d Emily answered, looking at herself in the mirror. She flatly ignored a pale white Rosaline, shocked at her suggestion of getting cosmetic surgeries done.<\/p>\n
Rosaline also tried telling John about it in the hope he would convince Emily otherwise, but he was too preoccupied with his work to care. \u201cAh, it\u2019s alright, Mom,\u201d he said. \u201cEmily is not a child. I can\u2019t tell her what to do and what not to do. It\u2019s going to be fine. I\u2019m OK with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
John was in a rush that day and left for the business trip without noting the horror in Rosaline\u2019s eyes. Days later, Emily underwent the first part of the treatment and looked horrible. Blue bruises and bandages marked her eyes, her face was scarlet and swollen, and her skin bore scars, making her look terrible.<\/p>\n
But after being discharged, when Emily returned home, she was really happy. Just a little more time and I\u2019ll look perfect, she thought. She parked her car in the driveway, grabbed her things, and got out of the car. When she entered her house, she saw Joel playing with his toys and realized how much she had missed him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, baby!\u201d she squealed, dropping the keys in the bowl by the front door shelf. \u201cI missed you!\u201d<\/p>\n
But as she approached Joel, he ran away from her. \u201cYou, not Mommy!\u201d he cried. \u201cGranny!\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily didn\u2019t understand what was going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, dear!\u201d Rosaline gasped as she came to the living room. \u201cI advised you against those procedures, Emily! No wonder Joel is scared!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom!\u201d Emily snapped. \u201cHow can he not recognize me!? I don\u2019t look that different!\u201d<\/p>\n
Joel, who was hiding behind Rosaline, peered at Emily and said, \u201cYou\u2026 not Mommy! Mommy was beautiful!\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily\u2019s heart was broken when Joel said that. \u201cOh! Well, maybe it\u2019s the after-effects of the surgeries,\u201d she said, holding back her tears. \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine. I\u2019m your mommy, Joel. And I\u2019ll become more beautiful. Just some more time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
But nothing changed. Time passed, and Emily\u2019s bruises disappeared, but Joel didn\u2019t recognize her.<\/p>\n
Emily was crushed. She sang him lullabies she used to sing to him as a child, bribed him with his favorite pancakes and cookies, and told him about the times they had spent together, but it was all for naught. Joel just didn\u2019t recognize her anymore.<\/p>\n
Emily now regretted the procedures she had undergone. She wanted to get them done so she wouldn\u2019t lose John and Joel, but Joel had already pushed her away. But there was something Emily wasn\u2019t aware of.<\/p>\n
One day, she was sitting in her armchair on the back porch and reading a book when Joel dashed up to her with a flower from their garden. \u201cMommy! This for you!\u201d he chirped, and Emily was overjoyed. \u201cOh! Thank you, darling\u2014\u201d she began, then paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait! You called me Mommy! Joel! Do you remember who I am now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOops!\u201d Joel pressed his palms on his lips. \u201cGranny\u2026 she said we were playing a game!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat game, Joel?\u201d Emily asked angrily. Joel then revealed the truth, which shocked Emily to the core.<\/p>\n
He said Rosaline had asked him to pretend he didn\u2019t know Emily from the minute she got home from the doctor\u2019s clinic. Every day Joel did that, Rosaline bought him a new toy. Joel said the game was fun and that he wanted to continue playing it, so he stopped calling her Mommy.<\/p>\n
Emily was furious and confronted Rosaline. \u201cReally, Mom?\u201d she snarled. \u201cYou made my son lie to me? Joel told me everything about your ridiculous game!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, honey,\u201d Rosaline said. \u201cI did that! Yes, I did\u2026 so you don\u2019t go for any other ridiculous procedures! Those things are dangerous, and I didn\u2019t want you to lose your natural beauty. You\u2019re already beautiful, honey!\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily lashed out at Rosaline, defending herself by saying that she wanted to look more beautiful for John until a voice from behind said, \u201cI agree with Mom, Emily!\u201d<\/p>\n
John was home from the business trip, and he couldn\u2019t believe Emily had undergone plastic surgery. He said he loved her and would always do so because of her honesty, kindness, and humility, and for the woman she was. Not for some ridiculous cosmetic procedures!<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re beautiful the way you are, Emily!\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I never want you to change.\u201d<\/p>\n
That day, Emily realized she had over-thought things and gone too far. She decided to cancel all her further appointments and stopped blindly following what her other friends did. Rosaline admitted she was wrong to involve Joel in this, but in the end, it all worked out for the best.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A mother is torn apart when she comes home and realizes her son doesn\u2019t recognize her anymore. But there\u2019s more to it than meets the eye, and reality hits her hard when the truth is revealed. Do you believe in fairy tales? Emily didn\u2019t until she met John at the Brooklyn cafe she worked at. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11169"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11176,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11169\/revisions\/11176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}