After a teacher learned that her best student, her ex's daughter, had to complete her homework under the street lamp, she confronted the girl and decided to take her back home, unaware that her kind move would change her life forever.
The beginning of a new academic session at school always excited Ms. Martin because it allowed her to meet new students. The woman loved teaching English Literature and always enjoyed the introductory class.
During her first introductory class of the day, Ms. Martin asked her sixth graders to come forward and introduce themselves. She felt happy as the children told their names until a girl, Ava, stood in front of the room and introduced herself.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pixabay
"Is she Jack's daughter?" Ms. Martin thought while forcefully smiling. Hearing the girl's surname made her go down memory lane. Jack was her high-school sweetheart, best friend, and the person she trusted the most.
After dating him for years, Ms. Martin finally decided to tie the knot with him, but an unexpected incident forced her to change her decision. One night, she caught Jack cheating on her with another woman.
"I never thought you could cheat on me, Jack! I trusted you the most." the then-young Ms. Martin cried.
"Hey, sweetheart. Listen to me, please. It's not what you think. Stephanie and I are just friends," Jack lied.
"I don't want to be with you. Please leave me alone," Ms. Martin said before leaving Jack's house.
Weeks later, Stephanie told Jack she was pregnant, but he didn't want to take up the responsibility of her child. He went back to Ms. Martin and begged for forgiveness.
"I can't live with you, Jack," Ms. Martin said, "You broke my trust. You should go live with Stephanie and raise her child. Please forget me!"
Ms. Martin's rejection had crushed Jack's heart. He loved her more than anyone else, but he was sure she would never marry him. Soon, he married Stephanie and welcomed their daughter, Ava, months later.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
"Ms. Martin! Can you please check this paragraph I just wrote," Ava interrupted Ms. Martin's thoughts.
Ava handed her notebook to Ms. Martin and waited for her teacher's feedback on her work.
"You have done an excellent job, Ava! I love the sentence structure you have incorporated in your paragraph," Ms. Martin said and patted Ava's back.
After working with her new students, Ms. Martin realized Ava was one of the best students in her class. The little girl consistently achieved good test scores and never skipped school.
One day, one of Ava's friends came to Ms. Martin and told her that she saw Ava doing her homework on the street.
However, one day, Ava didn't come to school. Ms. Martin thought she would show up the next day, but Ava didn't attend school for a week. Upon inquiring, Ms. Martin learned that Ava's mother had passed away.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pixabay
She felt sad for the teenager and supported her however she could. Soon, Ava's grades began dropping, and she lost interest in studying. "I miss my mom so much!" Ava told Ms. Martin.
"Oh, honey! It's okay," Ms. Martin hugged Ava. "You know we are all here for you."
Despite knowing Ava was Jack's daughter, Ms. Martin could never think about hurting the young girl. She couldn't hold Ava accountable for what Jack did to her years ago.
One day, one of Ava's friends came to Ms. Martin and told her that she saw Ava doing her homework on the street. "I saw her working under the street light even after it started raining last night," the girl said.
"Why would she complete her homework on the street?" Ms. Martin wondered. She wanted to know what was happening in Ava's life.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
The next day, Ms. Martin asked Ava to stay back after school. Once all the students left the classroom, Ms. Martin asked Ava why she wasn't completing her homework inside her house.
"It's because of my father," Ava replied while looking at the floor.
"Does he force you to leave the house? What does he do, Ava? Please tell me." a worried Ms. Martin said.
"I don't know why he has changed so much after Mom's death," Ava cried. "He invites his friends over every night, and they drink until midnight. They talk loudly, laugh, and shout at each other. I feel so scared, Ms. Martin."
"Oh, Jesus! That sounds terrible!" Ms. Martin exclaimed.
"I can't study or even sleep when they are around. I don't know what to do, Ms. Martin," tears rolled down Ava's cheeks.
Ms. Martin hugged Ava, trying her best to console her. Suddenly, an idea struck her, but she wasn't sure Ava would agree.
"I think I have a solution, Ava," Ms. Martin said, "Do you want to come home with me? You can stay with me for as long as you wish!"
"But Dad..." Ava said.
"Don't worry about him. I'll handle everything," Ms. Martin assured the young girl.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
For the next few days, Ms. Martin helped Ava with her homework and fed her delicious meals. The two bonded and spent a good time together until the day Jack arrived at Ms. Martin's doorstep.
"Why did you take my daughter? I want her back!" Jack demanded before he looked at Ms. Martin's face.
"Wait... is that you?" Jack asked.
"Yes, I am Ms. Martin, your daughter's teacher," she replied. "I provided her a safe living space because she told me what you do every night. You better get everything sorted, or I will call social services."
"I want Ava back. I am here to take her," Jack shouted.
"Lower your voice! I won't allow her to go with you until you stop drinking every night. Because of your irresponsible behavior, Ava has to complete her homework on the street. You can't take her!" Ms. Martin said and shut the door.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
A few weeks later, Jack stepped out of his car outside Ava's school and offered to take her to the movies after school. "Is that Jack? He looks so much better!" Ms. Martin wondered as Ava hopped into her father's car.
Later that day, Ms. Martin learned that Jack underwent treatment and quit his bad habits, so she allowed Ava to go home with him. Little did she know that her kind act would soon make her life take a different turn.
A few days later, Ava gave Ms. Martin a note that read:
"Dear Ms. Martin, I would like to thank you for keeping Ava with you for the past few days. Please accept this invitation for dinner tonight at 8 p.m. Ava and I will wait for you at our house. Jack."
Ms. Martin couldn't refuse the invitation, so she wore her favorite black dress to her ex-boyfriend's house and rang the bell.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
"Ms. Martin? What a pleasant surprise!" Jack exclaimed and gestured for her to enter the house.
"Why are you surprised, Jack? You were the one who invited me," Ms. Martin said.
Jack dressed up because Ava wanted to have a festive dinner at home. He had no idea his daughter had invited Ms. Martin as well.
"It was me, Ms. Martin!" Ava smiled. "I wanted you and Dad to have dinner together."
Ms. Martin and Jack looked at each other and smiled. Then, the three sat at the dinner table and chatted for hours. Ms. Martin and Jack couldn't stop laughing while recalling funny incidents from their past.
The surprise dinner organized by Ava that night rekindled Ms. Martin and Jack's friendship. After spending time together for months, the two decided to tie the knot and began preparing for their wedding.
What can we learn from this story?
Always help people when you see them in pain. As soon as Ms. Martin realized Ava was disturbed, she comforted her and offered her a solution.
True love never fades away. After parting ways and living different lives, Ms. Martin and Jack finally bonded over dinner, and after spending a few weeks together, they realized they still had feelings for each other.
Share this story with your friends and family. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
Click here to read another story about a girl who told her teacher her father had a picture of her kissing him. The single teacher wasn't expecting her student to say this to her.