Young Woman Comforts Little Boy Lost in Park, Takes the Place of His Mother Later – Story of the Day

A woman heartbroken in love escapes reality in parks and nature when her paths cross with a little boy. Little does she know she'll take his mother's place a month later.

After Mary's boyfriend, Jack, broke up with her and kicked her out of their rented apartment, she didn't have anywhere to go. She eventually sought shelter at a friend's, but she wasn't comfortable there.

Jack and Mary had dated for a little over six years, and she never thought he'd end everything in one night. While she had told him she didn't love him anymore, she knew it was a lie. She loved him even after what he'd done.

Love is funny, isn't it? Mary was shedding tears for Jack even after he cheated on her and left her. She often escaped to the parks around her friend's house so nobody noticed her crying, and she wept to her heart's content, remembering her sweet days with Jack.

One day, Mary was sitting on a bench alone, crying, when she heard a soft sob around her. She didn't see anyone in close sight but felt someone was watching her, so she got up to leave. Right then, she saw a little boy behind the bench, hugging his knees and crying…

"Hey there, what are you doing here alone?" she asked the boy, who looked up at her with red eyes.

"I… I can't find my way back," he sniffled. "I got lost while running after my ball."

"Are you here with your friends? Maybe you could tell me where you live, and I can drop you off? How about that?" Mary asked him.

"I don't know how to go home. I came here with my daddy. His name is Tyler. He—"

Before the boy finished his sentence, a young man came running up to them. "Hey, Henry! Oh, thank goodness, I found you!" he shouted.

Sometimes, our heart breaks because we are destined for better things.

Panting, the man scooped the little boy, Henry, in his arms and hugged him. "Thank God, I found you. I was terrified when I didn't see you around. I'm sorry I got busy on a phone call, bud."

"And you are?" Mary asked the young man. "Are you Tyler?"

"Oh! Yes, I am. I'm guessing Henry told you about me."

"Yes, he mentioned your name. I'm Mary, by the way."

"Thanks for helping us, Mary," Tyler said. "Henry gets really scared when he's alone."

"Oh, I didn't do much. I was actually asking him if I could drop him home, but he didn't seem to know the address. This place gets really dark in the evening. I'm glad you found him."

"Sorry, we're new here, and he still needs to get acquainted with the route back home… I was thinking… Hey, can I treat you to a coffee or something? I'm just really glad you wanted to help us."

Mary paused, thinking if she should take the offer. Tyler was cute and handsome, and after meeting him and Henry, it was the first time in several days that she hadn't thought about Jack's betrayal.

He was a stranger, yes, but she really needed a change, she thought. She finally said yes.

While having coffee at a nearby cafe, Mary told Tyler that she didn't expect him to be a dad because he looked too young to be one. And she was shocked by his reply.

Tyler laughed. "You're right," he said. "Honestly, I'm not Henry's dad. He's my lil' brother."

"What?" gasped Mary. "But I thought… I thought he called you daddy," she said, looking at Henry, who was devouring a sandwich and chocolate shake with them.

In the end, she listened to her heart and asked him the question that wouldn't stop ringing inside.

"Well," Tyler said. "Mom recently died and Dad didn't want us around. His parental rights were taken away, and I'm legally Henry's guardian. He calls me Dad affectionately, and well, isn't he cute? I'd love to have a son like him someday."

Mary pursed her lips and stared into her cup. "Sorry about your loss. It must be hard for Henry and you."

"Yes, it's been hard for us," Tyler said. "Losing your parents at such a young age isn't easy. And I miss Mum too. So… what about you? I mean, I've only been talking about myself until now. Are you from this city itself?"

Mary nodded before she shared a few details about her sad life. She told Tyler she was born and brought up in the same city and never moved. Then she revealed how she was crashing at a friend's place because she didn't have anywhere to go.

Mary was an orphan and had always been looking after herself on her own. She was yet to find a job and home.

"Don't worry," Tyler encouraged her. "I'm pretty sure you'll get through it. I trust you."

Mary smiled. "Thanks. I guess I really needed to hear that."

Before leaving the cafe, Tyler and Mary exchanged contacts, and Tyler told her she could call him anytime, and he would cheer her up. He had noticed she looked sad, and the thoughtful gesture of offering to call anytime really moved Mary's heart.

At home that night, she was twisting and turning on her bed, unable to believe she was thinking about Tyler and not Jack.

Was she in love? Was it a new crush? She didn't care about that. She dialed him in the middle of the night, and he answered.

"Hey, hi!" he said. "Didn't expect you'd call so soon."

"You recognized my number? I'm sorry… I should call some other time, I guess—"

"No, it's fine. I was actually awake," he said. "Also, I saved your contact right away. So, how may I help you?"

"I was just—" Mary paused for a while, wondering if she was taking everything too fast. In the end, she listened to her heart and asked him the question that wouldn't stop ringing inside.

"You said you'd cheer me up anytime, right?" she asked. "Well, um, I… I mean, can we meet at the park tomorrow, if you're free? I loved spending time with you and Henry today, and it really made me forget my worries. I know I sound very selfish, but I was just hoping we could meet?"

She heard Tyler laughing on the other end of the line. "That's not selfish of you. Actually, I wanted to see around the city, so maybe you can help me? I'll meet you at the park at 3; does that work?"

"Oh, sure, yes," Mary said. "I'll wait for you and Henry. See you guys soon..."

A month later, Mary was waiting for Tyler again, but not at a park or cafe. She stood in a beautiful satin wedding dress, holding a bridal bouquet of calla lilies, smiling at her handsome fiancé walking toward her.

Tyler and Mary were in love and decided to tie the knot a month after meeting each other. Henry was the best man at their wedding, and the little boy found a loving mom in Mary. It all worked out for the best for all of them, and they embarked on a beautiful journey together as a family.

What can we learn from this story?

• Sometimes, our heart breaks because we are destined for better things. Mary and Jack's relationship didn't work out because God had planned someone better and more loving for Mary's life.
• True love finds you no matter where you are. Tyler and Mary were destined to be together, and fate made it possible.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who sheltered an older woman he met in a park. Imagine his shock when he learned she was his birth mother!

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.