Story “Do you have skeleton in the cupboard? I do.”

by Melnik Anna 

Do you have skeleton in the cupboard? I do. I promised myself not to reveal my secret. It’s hard and even scary to remember. But I have to. I am 78 and I feel that I will die soon. All my life I kept this secret. But I can not die keeping it... I just can’t. I must, must, must tell it ... From what should I start? I lived alone in a small house in a suburb. On my street all the people pretended that they liked me. But I knew: it was all hypocrisy. I really knew it. I felt it. They all had families and children. I, on the opposite, had no husband and no children. I knew that they despise me for it. I wanted children, but I could not have them. 

So I hate these smiling faces of moms with prams. I was like the outcast among them. Among that happy families ... I could not live like that!. I’m sure you can understand me. It was not my guilt. All happened because of them! They are guilty! They forced me to do what I did by their cries, "My baby, my son, my daughter! ..” Oh, how I hated that word and how at the same time I was jealous of it!

During one party, the couple of Mary and John Smith have announced that they expect twins. Again! But they already had a child. What an injustice! I could not listen to these congratulations! I went out and wept for a long time in the bathroom, but no one even noticed it. They all didn’t worry about me even for a moment. And I decided - enough.

I made my plan ahead. I saled my house and moved to a neighboring town. I changed my image, dyed my hair. And began to wait. Before the birth of Mary’s twins still left 5 months.

I began to prepare for the baby. Bought clothes and toys. Each month increased the size of my artificial belly. Everyone had to believe that I’m expacting a child.

I secretly followed Mary for almost every day, coming to the town I used to live. Thanks God, no one recognized me. I was always careful. I wore wigs and disguised.

I was looking forward to the day when Mary gives birth. And here it is - that day! I went to the hospital. I put on a white robe, so I looked like a nurse. I hid around corners and waited.

One night I waited until the duty fell asleep and snuck into the room for babies. Here he is .. my baby! I picked him up and immediately felt - he's mine. My baby... His brother was not at all like him - he was the son of Mary. And from now on I knew that I would be a better mother to him than this stupid couple of Smith.

People can say that I stole baby. But I prefer not to call it “stealing”. I just took him, because I know he would be happier with me...

And I have raised a beautiful son, I know. I gave him only the best.I loved him as anyone else.

But before my death, I must confess to my beloved son: my dear, you shoud know, that you have brother and sister. They live in the neighboring town and had the surname Smith. And if you want to, you can find them.

My son, forgive me. I've always loved only you ...