What happens when the desire to adopt a child uncovers a long-buried secret or an incredible coincidence that makes a family tighter? Perhaps, it's evidence that the universe has a plan for everyone after all.
In the blink of an eye, life can thrust us into moments we never saw coming, blurring the lines between what we want and what's meant to be. From a grieving mom spotting her late daughter's doppelgänger to a couple stumbling upon their son's secret sibling, and a teen dad's accidental reunion with his son—each tale is a riveting journey through the twists and turns of love, loss, and serendipity.
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1. I Found the Boy I Had to Give Up and Gained a Whole Family
"Come on, Josh! You have to swing the bat with all your might. You can do it!" I yelled at the nine-year-old boy up for bat.
At 27, coaching the little league baseball team at my former elementary school wasn't something I had envisioned for myself. Growing up, the thought of working with kids never crossed my mind as something I would find fantastic.
Yet, here I was, having stumbled upon this job which turned out to be so much more rewarding than being cooped up in a classroom. After college, where I earned a degree in Education, I spent a couple of years teaching English to teenagers who seemed to not care at all. So, I quit.
The coaching job was offered to me by a buddy, aware of the many years I spent playing ball. It felt like fate. Everything aligned perfectly, and I loved every moment of it. I had been doing this for a while now, and couldn't possibly imagine doing anything else.
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But, this job wasn't without its challenges. It required an immense amount of patience, constantly reminding the kids that they could achieve whatever they set their minds to.
Take little Josh, for instance. He was shy, more of a bookworm, and only on the team because his parents insisted. I could see the talent in him, even though he was somewhat afraid of getting hit by the ball. I hoped he would soon overcome his fears and start enjoying the game.
When he finally hit the ball, sending it farther than anyone expected, he ran to first base, his face alight with excitement. "Good job, Josh! That's right!" I shouted across the field, clapping and beaming with pride.
"Coach Givens?" I turned to see Mrs. Finkle standing by, accompanied by a boy I hadn't met before. "This is Robert, a new student. He transferred at the beginning of the week and wants to try out for the team."
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"Awesome! Nice to meet you, Robert. Let's get through these sets first, and then we'll see what you can do. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll fit right in," I replied, offering him a reassuring smile, which he returned.
Robert took a seat with some of the other kids, while Mrs. Finkle returned to her office. However, as I glanced back at the new kid sitting in the dugout, something about him seemed oddly familiar. I couldn't quite place where I might have seen him before. Shrugging off the feeling, I focused back on the practice.
Robert was a natural at baseball, and he made the team quickly. He was also social, and the other boys laughed at almost everything he said. The day proceeded perfectly until the parents began to arrive.
Watching Robert sprint towards a woman with a kind, welcoming smile, who then embraced him warmly, a realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The boy bore a striking resemblance to Emily, my former girlfriend.
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"But he can't be, right?" I muttered to myself, but the more I pondered, the stronger the possibility seemed.
Ten years ago, Emily's pregnancy had been a shock to both of us. At 17, the idea of being parents was overwhelming. Our parents were against abortion, so Emily carried the pregnancy to term, tragically losing her life during childbirth.
Her parents, consumed by grief, wanted nothing to do with the baby, and my parents, seeing the toll it took on me, pushed for adoption. Despite the deep conflict within me, knowing Emily had given her life for our son, and my love for him, I ultimately succumbed to the pressures of my situation and my lack of resources, making the excruciating decision to give him up.
The guilt of that decision haunted me, perhaps driving my passion for coaching, and being around kids the same age as my son would have been.
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The thought that Robert could be my son seemed far-fetched, as it was based merely on a slight resemblance and shared interests. Trying to convince myself that it was just a coincidence, I reminded myself that my son had inherited Emily's blonde hair and green/blue eyes, while I saw none of myself in him.
Robert, with his masculine features and bright green eyes, wasn't at all like that baby. Or had I forgotten him in all these years?