FORGOTTEN BRIDE

lia'

she's

ugh they were made of stone, and I fought to open them. The light overhead was blinding, and for a moment, I thought I might be dreaming. Maybe this was just another twi

en stretched and twisted beyond its limit. My mouth was dry, my throat scratchy, and there was a dull throb in m

es, with dark hair that had strands of gray at the temples. Her eyes were wide with relief, and she gently placed a hand on my arm, as if afrai

ve been unconscious for a few hours now," s

eded answers. What had happened? How had I ended up here? The last thing I remembered was the car hitting me on the road, the world spin

e standing beside her, a tall, professional-looking woman in a white unif

but serious. "It's a miracle you're even awake, given the severity of the a

w had I lost an entire day of my

eemed to be holding something back, her hands twisting together as she avoided my

n closer to me. "I never meant for this to happen. It was an accide

but it was enough to get her attention

refully. "I... I hit you with my car," she finally admitted, her voice cracking. "I di

, but now, as she spoke, the pieces began to fall into place. I could vaguely remember the blinding headlights

es welling up with tears. "It was a

s didn't sit right with me. "Why are you apologizing like this? I mean,

t, I saw something in her eyes-something deeper than just guilt. It was as though

e barely above a whisper. "I've been searching for

skipped a beat, and I suddenly felt dizzy, as if the

elt... familiar. And when I saw the birthmark on your arm-right here-" She reached forward and gently lifted the sleeve of my hospital gown, poi

What was she talking about? I didn't have any children, and I had never even

th desperation. "I gave you up for adoption when you were a baby. I wasn't able to keep you, and I

nformation when the nurse, who had

to take in, but we have to be sure. I su

needed me to believe her. "Yes, please. I need to

y everything this woman was saying, but there was something in the way she looked at me that made me want to believe her. The look in

n again, really looked at her this time. There was something about her face that was...

g me like a wave. "If you're really my mother... how

I wanted to be close, just in case I ever found you. I've been watchin

with confusion. I wanted to believe her, but

ts of the DNA test. She handed the papers to the woman, who eagerly opened t

ed at the papers. "It's confirmed. The results matc

eathe. This woman... this stranger... was my mother? The one I had neve

lready overwhelming enough, the nur

e preg

art s

gna