Grieving Mom Cries over Little Time Spent with Late Son, One Day Hears His Voice in Living Room — Story of the Day

Maggie was shattered after her only son died suddenly. She would've given anything to hear his voice again. And one day, she couldn't believe her ears when her impossible wish came true.

To everyone in the neighborhood, Maggie was "Matthew's mom."

All the shopkeepers, churchgoers, and young mothers of the little town knew the story of Maggie, the woman who had moved there with her then 10-year-old son after their father had heartlessly walked out on them.

When the neighbors learned that the frail-looking boy had a heart condition, they were always around for the mother and son. The folks lived in modest houses and had just enough to get them by. But they were always there to watch Matthew when his mama was at work all day, to rush him to the hospital in one of their old cars, or give Maggie a few of their groceries on a particularly difficult month.

Maggie was forever grateful to her helpful neighbors because their support allowed her to focus on working hard. The surgery that the doctors had recommended for Matthew's heart wasn't going to come cheap.

Three years went by, and Maggie had saved up almost enough for Matthew's operation. "Just another month of running around," she whispered to Matthew one night, marveling at how her little boy was now 13 years old.

"I know I haven't been able to spend much time with you, sweetheart. Mama's had to work way too much. But soon, we will have all the time in the world!" she kissed his forehead, not knowing that was the very last time she would get to do so.

"Keep me safe, like you always have. Your smile is my smile. Your tears are my tears."

The following day, Maggie was working her shift at the grocery store when she got the call that made her collapse onto the floor.

Her son, the wind beneath her wings, had passed away in his sleep that morning.

When she rushed home and saw her child lying lifeless before her eyes, she apologized to him a thousand times. "I'm sorry, baby. I wish I could have spent more time with you. I wish I didn't drown myself in so much work..."

The whole town had gathered at the funeral to see off the brave, kind-hearted boy who had become like a son to them.

In the days that followed, nobody got to see much of Maggie. She remained holed up in her little house, lying in her son's bed, sobbing over his clothes and toys, blaming herself, and imagining a hundred things she could have done differently...

She could see her neighbor walk up to the porch and knock on her door, but she knew that they could do nothing to make her feel better. She didn't want to feel better.

Everyone left after ringing the bell a few times, except a boy named Eric.

Eric was different. He was a helpless boy who was bullied at school and mistreated by his family, and Matthew had been his only friend.

"I just want to cry with you, aunt Maggie!" he said from the other side of the door.

Maggie couldn't stop herself from answering the door and letting the child hug her and cry. The two spent the whole afternoon recollecting memories of Matthew and crying in each other's laps.

"Sit tight, Eric. Let me get you something warm to drink," Maggie said. She went into the kitchen to make a cup of hot cocoa for the boy. She made it just like Matthew would like. The thought of him ran a shudder through her body, and she tried not to burst into tears again.

"I would give anything to hear his voice again…" Maggie sobbed under her breath. That's when she heard it again…her Matthew's voice!

"Happy Birthday, mom!" The tin of sugar fell off her hands, scattering sugar all over the floor as she froze at the sound of the boy she had lost. For a moment, she could barely breathe. She rushed to the living room and found Matthew's face talking to her on the small phone screen that Eric was holding up.

"I know if you're seeing this, I'm not there. You've probably been crying yourself to sleep, and you've shut out all the neighbors. And I bet you forgot it's your birthday, too!"

"Well, I didn't. I may not be there in the flesh, mom. But know that I'm grateful for every single moment I got to spend with you. I know you blame yourself for not giving me a lot of time, but I know there was great love in that absence, too."

Maggie had to sit down to keep from falling as her tears refused to stop. She held Matthew's face closer as he said:

"I love you, mom. You're such a hero! You don't see it, but I do. When it came to providing for me, there was nothing you couldn't do. And I know you think you can't possibly move on from this, but you can do this, too."

"I'll always be there with you, mom. That's the only place I'll ever be from now on. Keep me safe, like you always have. Your smile is my smile. Your tears are my tears."

Maggie felt another avalanche of tears rise, but she quickly wiped her eyes and sat up as her son bid her goodbye.

Something in her changed after listening to that message. It was as if a glimmer of life had returned to her eyes. She hugged Eric and thanked him for preserving this message. She prepared him a delicious meal and asked him to pick any of Matthew's toys he loved.

"This is your room now, Eric. Anytime you feel alone or need someone to talk to, come here." She kissed the boy on the forehead, donning the same gentle smile that her son would wear.

What can you learn from this story?

• A mother's love is endless, and so is a child's. Maggie worked herself to exhaustion to make it possible for Matthew to have a life-changing operation. And Matthew let her know he loved her, even after he had died.
• Show some love to the hearts that sacrificed for you. Matthew found a way to thank his mother and make her feel appreciated. If we haven't already, we should let our guardians and heroes let us know how grateful we are to them, too.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a grieving elderly mother who comes across a similar miracle one day, as she hears the voice of her beloved deceased son.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.