'Alice Isn't Your Real Daughter!' Mom's World Is Crushed by Old Nurse's Last Call – Story of the Day

Single mom Matilda's strict parenting has always strained her relationship with her teen daughter, Alice. Matilda keeps pushing herself to be a good mother, but her world shatters when an old nurse calls her and reveals Alice isn't her biological child.

It was another exhausting day for Matilda, a 36-year-old single mom who taught children with special needs at the tuition center. She trudged through the door on a rainy evening, huffing and puffing, struggling to carry five paper bags filled with groceries.

She hoped her daughter would help her, but 13-year-old Alice was engrossed in her phone, her eyes glued to a baseball game. Ignoring her mother's struggle, the teen chomped on her bubblegum and was too busy scrolling the screen.

"Teenagers these days," muttered Matilda as she struggled her way into the house with the heavy bags.

Just then, Alice's face lit up as she remembered something important. "Mom, wait! I need a new baseball glove for tomorrow's match at school. I saw one like this in the store," she said, jumping up from the couch as she followed Matilda to the kitchen...

"Alice, I said no last night, didn't I?" fumed Matilda. "Baseball is for boys. Not girls. Do you know how hard I work to save money for your college? Things have gone downhill for us after your dad passed. Money isn't raining from the skies now, Alice. Every penny counts...I'm not gonna waste a dime on some stupid glove."

Alice and her mother had never seen eye to eye when it came to Alice's shopping interests. And their latest argument over the baseball glove was no exception.

Alice's face twisted with frustration. "You never understand me, Mom," she spat out. "You're always strict and controlling. I can't even have a little bit of freedom in this house. It's not like we're so poor or starving. Can't you afford $50? Stop being such a penny pincher, Mom."

"What did you say? Alice, come here...I said stop...." Matilda rolled her eyes as she stormed after Alice. And just as she was about to hit back at the girl, the shrill ring of the phone in the living room distracted her.

With a huff, Matilda picked up the receiver, and an unfamiliar older woman coughed on the other end of the line.

"I'm Lois," said the woman, clearing her throat, "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. But it's really important...I was a midwife in the maternity hospital where you delivered your baby."

Matilda had no clue what this was about as she nervously pressed the end of the receiver closer to her ear.

"I committed a huge sin," added the woman, "...God has punished me for what I did. My days are numbered because of cancer...I might die any minute. But before that, I want to make everything right. I have a confession to make, dear…I was afraid of losing my job. But now, I'm going to lose my life. And there's no point in hiding the truth anymore."

"Wha—What are you talking about? I don't get it. What truth?"

"You need to know something about your child. The child with you isn't yours," said the woman, dropping a bombshell that froze Matilda and made her blood run cold.

"I swapped your baby with another woman's child by mistake. Both of you delivered your babies on the same day. I'm so sorry for doing this."

Matilda's legs trembled from shock. She clutched the wall tight and felt the crimson drain from her face.

"What?? Al—Alice isn't my daughter...?" she gasped.

"That's right, dear. Alice isn't your real daughter! Please forgive me. I know the woman who took your child. Her phone number is..."

Shocked beyond belief, Matilda jotted down the woman's contact details on the back of a magazine. Her heart started racing, and her head spun, unable to make sense of what she was just told.

"Oh my God! But why didn't you reach out before? Hello? Miss Lois...Hello? You there? I can't hear you...Miss Lois?"

But the older lady had hung up already, and when Matilda redialed the number, the line went blank. She called the same number on her cell phone, but the line was engaged.

A sense of panic crawled up Matilda's gut. She recalled her argument with Alice moments ago and sank onto the couch, holding her head in her hands.

"Alice isn't really my daughter? Oh my God...What the hell is going on? Was it why we've never been able to get along with each other?"

Panic-stricken and confused, Matilda stormed to her room, grabbing the magazine. She shut herself behind the door and hastily rang the number Lois had just given her. Matilda's hands trembled with nervousness as she paced back and forth.

Each ring felt like an eternity, and Matilda's mind raced with a thousand worst-case scenarios. As the ringing continued, her palms grew greasy with sweat, and she felt a lump rise in her throat when a woman's voice spoke on the other end.

"Hhh—Hello," Matilda stammered out a greeting. "Hi, this is Matilda. May I know who's speaking?"

"Matilda? I'm sorry...do I know you? Annie here…"

"No. We haven't met before, Annie. I don't know how to say this. I think our children might've been switched at birth in the hospital 13 years ago."

"What? No! Uhm...I'm sure you have the wrong number," Annie scoffed, ready to disconnect the call.

"Hey...Hey, wait...Hold on. Don't hang up," Matilda pleaded with Annie. "You got to believe me. I swear I'm not lying. The girl with me...I think she's your daughter. There was a mix-up in the maternity ward, and our babies were swapped. The midwife who worked in that hospital just called me. She said she was sick and counting her days—some sort of confession on her deathbed. Look, Annie, I know what you feel right now. It's even harder for me..."

"...No, I don't know all the details, but I think there's a good chance our children were switched at birth. I think we need to talk about this in person. And I want to see...your girl. Could you please bring her along, Annie?"

After a momentous thought and confusion swirling in the pit of her gut, Annie agreed. And the two mothers decided to meet up at a café on Main Street the next afternoon.

Matilda's heart pounded faster as she walked into the coffee shop.

Her eyes darted around, trying to find Annie and the girl, and her heart almost skipped a beat when she saw a woman and a teen girl sitting by the window.

"Annie?" she approached the table as Annie rose to greet her.

But Matilda's eyes were fixed on Katie, Annie's 13-year-old daughter. She felt a sudden jolt of recognition and stood in disbelief at seeing the girl's face.

"Hey!" Matilda smiled at Katie, her gaze lingering on the girl's striking features. Matilda felt she was staring at a younger version of herself in the mirror. She noticed Katie had the same round nose, the same dimpled smile, and similar curly brunette locks.

Katie looked up and met Matilda's eyes, and for a moment, Matilda felt a deep connection, a bond she'd never felt before.

"Mom, could I please use your phone? My phone battery is dead," Katie asked Annie.

Matilda looked closer, noticing how different Katie's behavior was from that of her daughter, Alice, who was not as polite as Katie and grumbled for every little thing.

Matilda felt Katie and Alice were poles apart, and Katie's behavior was more courteous and soft-spoken. The girl's gentle mannerisms immediately endeared Matilda, and she was convinced that Katie was her own blood and flesh.

Matilda took a sip from her cup of cappuccino and looked at Katie with a smile. "So, Katie, what do you do in your free time?"

The girl's eyes lit up as she returned the phone to her mother. "I love dancing," she replied. "I spend a lot of time in ballet practice after school."

"Oh, lovely! That's really cool. Ballet is such a beautiful dance form for girls. I can't wait to see you dancing, dear!"

The two mothers made it look like a casual meeting so that Katie wouldn't doubt. Annie then sent the girl to the counter to pay the bill so that she could buy enough time to talk to Matilda.

"Okay, Matilda. Tell me, what's going on? After 13 years, someone calls and tells you our babies were swapped. On what grounds is this true? How do you expect me to believe this?"

"Annie, I understand this is shocking. But why would anybody lie on their deathbed? I know this is a lot to take in. I've got some pictures of my daughter, Alice...I mean...the girl with me, who I think is actually your daughter."

Matilda showed Annie pictures of Alice, and after seeing the girl's photos in different timelines, Annie gasped. "Oh my god! This can't be. She does look like me when I was little..."

"I told you, Annie. Our children were switched at birth. Alice is your daughter. And Katie is my child. It's so weird the truth unraveled like this after 13 years. But I'm glad we know it now."

The two mothers sat in thoughtful silence for several minutes, before Matilda spoke again. "So, what do we do now? About our children?"

"I'm still trying to process this whole thing. I need time," Annie pursed her lips and jumped to a different topic when Katie approached the table.

"So, how about we take a walk in the park?" Matilda beamed with joy as Annie nodded.

Matilda was overjoyed with every fleeting minute she got to spend with Katie. It had been only a few hours since they met, but to Matilda, it felt like mere minutes and not enough to catch on to the past 13 years of their lives.

Katie talked about her passions and dreams. And Matilda loved how the girl gestured animatedly, her eyes twinkling with excitement whenever she spoke of her love for dance and her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina.

"It's getting late," Annie exclaimed, cutting through Matilda and Katie's conversation about dance, painting, and all things fascinating.

As they stepped out of the park, Matilda wished for the moment to last longer and immediately requested Annie another meeting with Katie.

"Please, Annie. I hope you do understand what's going through me now. I'm sure you feel the same," she pleaded, almost on the verge of breaking down. "I want to spend more time with her."

"Alright!" Annie agreed. "Let's meet here tomorrow. But even I want to see my...ahem...." she coughed as Katie was still nearby, "...your daughter. I want to see your daughter, Alice."

Matilda nodded. "I understand. But I'm a little afraid. Our relationship hasn't been good recently. I'll try, and I hope she agrees."

"And needless to say, this stays between us for now. Let's not tell the girls until we figure out a way," added Annie.

Matilda smiled and left for her home. She stepped inside her flat, feeling a mix of exhaustion and joy after spending the day with her biological daughter. But as Matilda turned around, she saw Alice standing in front of her with a worried expression.

"Where have you been all day, Mom?" the girl asked, her tone seething with anger.

Matilda hesitated momentarily, knowing she couldn't tell her the truth. "I was...at a coffee shop with my friends," she said. "And why do you ask?"

Alice threw her phone on the floor, smashing it. "I told you yesterday I have an important game today, Mom," she barked. "...And you went out with your friends instead? How can you be so forgetful? It was a big day for me. And you ruined it."

A pang of guilt rose inside Matilda. She had utterly forgotten Alice's big game in her rush to meet her biological daughter.

"Watch your words, young lady. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to forget. I was just...huh...busy with something. And how did it go?"

"How did it go?" Alice fumed. "It was terrible, Mom. I lost. It's all coz of you. I had to borrow an old glove from my friend coz you refused to get me a new one. You weren't there to support me. Everybody's parents came. But you weren't there, Mom."

"Alice, it was an important meeting, and I had to go. Stop making a scene, okay? I'll be there for the next game. Lower your tone. This is not how you talk to your mother."

"The next game? Really, Mom? In your dreams. Coz you never get time to attend any of my matches. Were your friends more important than me?" Alice argued, tears streaming down her reddened face. "You always have excuses. Don't get me started on how you never come to any of my tournaments."

"Alice, stop...enough. I told you baseball isn't for girls. And you know I don't like the game, either. Stop shouting and go do your assignment."

"You're never there for me when I need you, Mom. And you never even apologize for anything. It's like you don't even care about me anymore."

"If that's how you feel, Alice, I can't do anything," Matilda argued. "It was just a goddamn game. There are more important things than that. Besides, I work so hard to improve our lives, and I deserve some time out for myself."

"Mom, you always ruin everything for me. I'm sick of everything. Too busy to attend my baseball game, too stingy to buy me a baseball glove...and you expect me to follow your stupid rules?"

"Alice, one more word, and you're outta my house to your grandma's for a full term. No more phone, no more pocket money, and no outings," Matilda's anger boiled over as she stomped her feet.

"Mom, it's not fair, okay? You always control everything. And you don't even care how I feel. You're only worried about yourself and your friends...I can't wait until I'm old enough to leave this house. I don't want you to be my mom anymore."

Alice's words cut deeply into Matilda, and she lost her cool then and there.

"Oh really? And you know what, Alice...I'M NOT YOUR MOTHER! So I won't be upset if you leave me. Did you hear me? I won't be upset," she barked.

"Y—You're not my mother??" Alice grew ashen as she stammered and bolted to her room in tears.

Matilda heard the door slam shut, and she never went after Alice, assuming she would calm down in a while. But hours ticked away, and when the girl never showed up for dinner or left her room, Matilda grew tense.

She approached Alice's bedroom and felt a prick of guilt when she heard the girl's faint sobs. Matilda sighed a deep breath, and as she marched to her room, her phone rang.

"Hey! Did she agree? Don't forget about our meeting tomorrow at the coffee shop. I want to see her," spoke Annie.

"I didn't tell her yet. I'll bring her tomorrow, don't worry. But I don't think it'll be an exciting meeting," said Matilda.

"That's okay. I'm sure she'll be a sport. I can't wait to see her. I'll be waiting for you."

Matilda was restless that night, worried about the meeting. She hoped Alice wouldn't throw a tantrum and everything would go as planned. She dozed off amid her deep thoughts, awakening to a pleasant Sunday morning.

"Alice, where are you going?" she asked as Alice assembled her baseball accessories.

"To the next room, Mom. Do I need permission even for that?"

Matilda frowned. "Get ready. I'm taking you somewhere...To meet a friend."

Alice shrugged disappointedly and agreed without arguing.

An eerie silence engulfed them as Matilda and Alice drove down the bustling street. Alice did not even look in her mother's direction. She avoided eye contact with Matilda and simply sat by the window, staring out with the earplugs on.

As their car tore down the busy road, Matilda and Alice suddenly heard a loud screeching sound, of crunching metal, from behind their car. And before they could fathom what was happening, a speeding car rammed into their vehicle.

"Alice? Can you hear me? Alice...Oh my God," Matilda cried in desperation at seeing Alice lying unconscious in the backseat. The impact was so severe that the girl hit her head hard on the window, smashing the glass.

"The—There's been an accident. M—My daughter...." Matilda cried to the emergency services operator, kneeling beside her daughter, tears streaming down her face as she patted Alice's cheeks.

"Ma'am, stay back," the paramedics rushed to the scene and hurried Alice into the ambulance on a gurney.

"Jesus, Don't do this to me. Please be okay, Alice. Please don't do this to me," Matilda pleaded with her daughter on the way to the hospital, her voice trembling with panic. Alice remained motionless, with the tubes breathing life into her.

"You're going to be okay, sweetie," Matilda whispered, holding Alice's hand tightly. "I won't let anything happen to you. You're gonna be alright, okay?"

Matilda nervously marched outside Alice's ward when Annie burst into the hallway, looking disheartened. As they waited for news about Alice's condition, the doctor opened the door and approached them.

"Who is the girl's mother?" he asked.

"I'm her mother!" Matilda and Annie chorused as the doctor's brows rose in a surprised arc.

"It's her…" Matilda said, her words laced with a melancholic tone. "She's the girl's mother."

He then informed them that Alice needed a blood transfusion. "What's your blood type?" he asked.

"Mine is O positive," replied Annie.

"What's your husband's blood type?"

"Same."

The doctor looked puzzled and said, "I'm afraid you're not the girl's biological mother. She has A negative blood type."

At this point, Matilda's eyes widened in shock. "Wait a sec...Even my blood type is A negative," she gasped as Annie turned around, equally shocked.

Matilda hurried behind the doctor, and during the blood transfusion, she broke down, having realized that Alice was her real daughter.

"I almost lost you...I'm so sorry for being so stupid," she silently sobbed.

Once the transfusion was over and Alice's condition was stable, Matilda called Lois, the elderly midwife, to verify the truth. But to her shock, a man's voice spoke on the other end of the line.

"Hello. This is the City psychiatric hospital. How can we help you?" he said, sending shivers down Matilda's spine.

"The psychiatric hospital? C—Can I speak to Miss Lois...the midwife? She called me…"

"Oh no. Not again! We're sorry for the trouble, Ma'am. Miss Lois is our patient…She's been sneaking into the office and calling random numbers."

"Oh my God...Jesus...Oh God," Matilda gasped in shock as she realized everything.

Alice regained consciousness the following evening, and as she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Matilda sitting beside her, with tear-smudged mascara streaked on her face.

"Sweetie, I'm glad you're okay!" Matilda exclaimed, gently cupping Alice's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry. We'll go home soon. Very soon…I promise."

Matilda sprang to her feet and bolted out of the ward to meet the doctor.

Meanwhile, Alice looked around, the beeping monitor reminding her she was in the hospital. She then noticed a gift-wrapped baseball glove—the one she'd dreamed of—with a red bow on it on the bedside table. Tears welled up in the rim of her eyes when she saw a note with the words: "To the best daughter in the world. Love you, Sweetie."

What can we learn from this story?

• The way your children turn out is the reflection of the guidance and support you provide for them. Matilda always wondered why she never got along with her daughter Alice. Her doubts were confirmed when a call from the so-called maternity hospital revealed Alice was switched at birth. Matilda thought Alice was not her real daughter, but fate ultimately made her realize she was wrong and that the girl was indeed her child.
• Parenting is a huge responsibility. If you are not satisfied with what your kids are turning out to be, then working on your parenting strategies is necessary. Matilda and her teen daughter never got along, and it took a major mishap for the mother to realize her roles and responsibilities well. Ultimately, she understood that her daughter needed a loving mother, not a strict, controlling one.

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.

New dad Danny was excitedly racing down a deserted road in his car to see his newborn baby. Fate drags him to a terrifying ordeal when a little boy running after a ball jumps in front of the speeding vehicle. Click here to read the full story.

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.