Grace Washington always wanted her daughter, Daria, to have a better life than she had. She worked hard to make sure Daria focused on her studies, sports, and music, hoping it would lead to a bright future.
But everything changed when 16-year-old Daria came to her one day with some news. “Mom, I’m pregnant,” Daria said, her voice shaking with fear.
Grace was shocked. This wasn’t part of the plan she had for her daughter. Worried about how this would affect Daria’s future, Grace decided that the best thing to do was to have Daria give the baby up for adoption. She thought it would give Daria a better chance at success.
Daria didn’t want to give up her baby, but she followed her mom’s decision. The baby was adopted, and life moved on. But over time, Grace started to feel guilty about the choice she had made for Daria. She realized how hard it must have been for her daughter to give up her child.
Years later, Grace couldn’t shake the feeling of regret. She reached out to Daria and told her how sorry she was. Together, they decided to try and find Daria’s child. When they did, Grace offered to help raise her grandchild alongside Daria, bringing their family back together.
In the end, Grace learned that love and family were more important than any plan she had made for Daria’s life.
“PREGNANT!” Grace shouted, her face twisted in anger. “You stupid girl! Do you want to ruin your life? Look at me! I was a teenage mother, and my life is hell because of it.”
“Mama,” Daria whispered, trying to stay calm, “I talked to my school counselor. She said I can still finish high school, have my baby, and go to college. There are programs that help with that…”
“You talked to some stranger before talking to your own mama?” Grace screamed. “Does that counselor put food on the table? Tell me! Is she going to wipe that baby’s butt? Get up at 3 am to feed it?”
“No, mama, but…” Daria stammered, feeling her voice shake.
“There are no ‘buts,’ Daria,” Grace interrupted harshly. “You’re not keeping that child. You have a scholarship to Juilliard because of that violin, and they won’t want you if you’re dragging diapers and a baby around.
Daria was crying, her voice full of pain. “No, mama, I want my baby!”
“You don’t know what you want, Daria,” Grace cried back, her voice breaking with emotion. “I’ll tell you what you want, and it ain’t some snotty-nosed brat hanging off you while I pay the bills! You’re going to give that baby up for adoption to a good family, and you’re going to have a future.”
Grace truly believed she was doing what was best for her daughter. In her mind, giving up the baby was the only way to protect Daria’s future. She wanted Daria to have the life she never had—free from the struggles of being a young mother.
So, four months later, when Daria’s baby was born, she signed the adoption papers. Daria gave her baby away, just like her mother wanted, and two months later, she was off to college. On the outside, it seemed like life was moving forward.
But late at night, when everything was quiet and dark, the pain of losing her baby would hit Daria the hardest. Her arms and breasts would ache, and she could almost smell the sweet scent of her newborn. She had secretly named her baby “Melody,” a name she whispered to herself in the stillness. Even though it brought her some comfort, the tears would always come as she smiled sadly, aching for the baby she had lost.
Grace had been right about one thing—Daria was an incredibly talented violinist. By the time she was 26, she had become a star soloist, traveling the world and performing with some of the greatest conductors and prestigious orchestras. Her career soared, and she achieved everything her mother had dreamed for her.
When Daria was 34, she met Robert, a kind and gentle man who made her smile in a way she hadn’t in years. They fell in love, married, and soon began talking about starting a family. Daria gave up her demanding touring schedule and focused on recording, hoping to become pregnant soon.
But the pregnancy never happened. As months turned into years, Daria and Robert turned to fertility specialists and even tried IVF, but nothing seemed to work. After four painful years of trying, Daria found herself at a breaking point. The one thing she wanted now seemed impossible.
Her thoughts kept returning to the baby she had given up all those years ago. The loss haunted her.
“God is punishing me,” Daria told her mother one day, her voice filled with bitterness. “I gave away His gift, and now He won’t give me another.”
“Calm down, Daria,” Grace said, trying to soothe her daughter. “You did what you had to do. Look at your life. You’ve got a wonderful career, a good man…”
“And no baby, Mama. I want a baby!” Daria cried, her voice breaking with frustration and pain.
“We can’t have everything we want! You just be grateful to God for what you have!” Grace said sharply, her voice firm.
Daria’s sobs grew louder. “I *had* a baby, Mama, and I wanted her. But you made me give her away!”
“It was for your own good!” Grace shot back, her voice filled with old wounds. “When I was pregnant with you, my mama turned me out of the house! I had nothing. You were lucky, Daria. I did what I thought was best for you.”
Grace’s words hung in the air, both women caught between the decisions of the past and the painful reality of the present.
“LUCKY? Because you didn’t turn me out on the streets? Mama, you could have helped me,” Daria said, tears streaming down her face. “I could have done it all with your help. All you had to do was help… You could have HELPED!”
That night, Grace lay awake, unable to sleep. Her daughter’s words echoed in her mind. “I could have helped,” she whispered to herself. “Instead, I bullied a frightened little girl into doing what I wanted. And I knew how to do it because I’d been a frightened little girl too…”
Two months later, Grace called Daria and invited her to lunch in the city. “What’s up, Mama?” Daria asked, curious about the sudden invitation.
“Nothin’s up!” Grace replied, her voice tight with emotion. “Can’t a mother just have lunch with her daughter?”
Three days later, Daria arrived at the restaurant to find her mother already chatting with a young woman who had long chestnut hair, dark eyes, and a smile that seemed hauntingly familiar. Grace stood up quickly and took Daria’s hand.
“Baby, I want you to meet Brianne,” Grace said, introducing the young woman with a nervous smile.
“I’m a huge fan,” Brianne said, her voice a bit shaky. “I’m a violinist too, and I have all your records. I’ve dreamed about meeting you…”
“That’s nice,” Daria said, trying to be polite. “Always nice to meet a fan…”
“Brianne is not just a fan, Daria,” Grace said, her voice trembling with emotion. “She’s your daughter.”
Daria felt the room start to spin beneath her feet. The shock and disbelief left her reeling as she struggled to grasp the reality of the moment.
Daria was amazed when she heard Brianne say she played the violin too. “You get that from me,” Daria said, laughing and crying at the same time.
That afternoon, Daria and her daughter found each other again, and Grace felt peace and redemption. Six months later, Daria received a wonderful surprise: she was pregnant. Her life had come full circle.
What can we learn from this story?
1. **Good intentions don’t always make us right.** Grace wanted the best for her daughter and thought giving up the baby was the only way to ensure a bright future.
2. **When you make a mistake, admit it and make amends.** Grace’s decision to reach out and fix her mistake helped heal the past.
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