Julia’s heart felt like it shattered when her husband Tom was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, the news was not good, and just two months later, he passed away.
Despite her overwhelming grief, she knew she had to be strong for her son, Rob, who was still quite young and deeply affected by his father’s death.
As time went on, Julia’s sadness only deepened, but then, Tom’s brother Mike stepped into their lives. Julia knew Mike had harbored feelings for her since they were young, although she chose Tom and never looked back.
With Mike’s comforting presence, Julia decided to marry him to provide Rob with a father figure.
Mike and Rob started bonding well. As Rob’s uncle and now his mother’s husband, Mike spent a lot of time with him.
Julia worked long hours, and whenever she came home, Mike would tell her about the wonderful days he and Rob spent hiking, visiting the park, and engaging in other fun activities.
But one day, Julia came home to an unsettling silence. Mike greeted her with an embrace and revealed that Rob had left, leaving behind a letter.
In his letter, 15-year-old Rob wrote:
Dear Mom and Dad,
I’ve decided to leave because I thought it would be better for everyone if I wasn’t around to bring up more bad memories and sorrow. Please understand that this isn’t because of anything you did but a decision I felt I needed to make for the sake of peace at home. I promise to take care of myself and hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me someday. Remember that I love you both, and this is the hardest choice I’ve ever had to make.
Take care,
Rob
Julia and Mike decided to start anew and bought a colonial home two states away from their old house. They left the old home to Julia’s sister, Schuyler, as Julia couldn’t bear the thought of selling it to a stranger. With the move, she gradually distanced herself from her family. But one day, a familiar face appeared at her door.
It was Schuyler, looking visibly nervous. She insisted that Julia stopped ironing Mike’s shirts and urged her to check Mike’s glasses case.
Inside, Julia discovered a phone. Schuyler explained it was a burner phone Mike used monthly to call Rob, ensuring he wouldn’t return home.
Mike had manipulated Rob, convincing him that Julia would be better off without him, sending Rob to live with an aunt on his father’s side. Schuyler uncovered this when she received a wedding invitation addressed to Julia. Despite Mike convincing Rob that Julia didn’t want him in her life, Rob still wanted his mother at his wedding.
Through the sender’s address on the invitation, Schuyler contacted Rob and learned that Mike had been contacting Rob without Julia’s knowledge for over a decade.
“Look how much mom has to work to feed you,” Mike had told Rob. “Wouldn’t it be nice if she could spend that money on herself? Wouldn’t you like to relieve her of the burden that you are?” Persuaded by Mike’s words, the poor boy left, believing his mother had no place for him in her life.
Julia used the burner phone to reach out to her son. She explained that she was unaware of Mike’s actions and had never stopped searching for him.
Julia eventually divorced Mike, sold their property, and bought a house next to Rob’s. She attended his wedding and is now a proud grandmother to a beautiful boy.
