I Found Photos of Me with a Newborn, but I Don’t Remember Ever Being Pregnant

I opened a box of forgotten photos while cleaning the attic and found pictures of me holding a tiny newborn, my eyes brimming with love. But I’d never been pregnant, let alone given birth. I decided to investigate, unaware I must face a truth that would shatter me to the core.

A few weeks ago, I was cleaning the attic when I pulled an old box from the shelf. It was labeled “Photos – Keep” in my handwriting, though I had no memory of marking it. Dust motes danced in the bright light as I nervously opened the box.

An old box on the floor | Source: Midjourney

An old box on the floor | Source: Midjourney

Inside, memories spilled out in glossy 4×6 prints: my college graduation with Mom and Dad beaming beside me, our wedding day with Daniel spinning me around the dance floor, and countless summer barbecues at the lake house.

Then, everything STOPPED.

There I was, in a hospital bed, cradling a newborn baby. My hair was plastered to my forehead with sweat, dark circles under my eyes, but my expression… I was gazing at that tiny bundle with such raw, pure love that it took my breath away.

A person holding a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

A person holding a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

More photos followed — me holding the baby against my chest, touching its impossibly small fingers, crying as I looked into its face. In another, I was feeding the baby, my finger trapped in its tiny fist.

But that was impossible. I’d never had a baby. Never been pregnant. NEVER. Then how was this possible?

I sank to the attic floor, surrounded by the scattered photos. My hands shook as I examined each one closely, searching for signs of manipulation or editing.

But they were real… the paper was aged and the corners slightly worn.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney

In one picture, a distinctive mustard-yellow chair sat in the corner of the hospital room, and the curtains had an odd geometric pattern I recognized.

It was St. Mary’s Hospital, the same hospital where we’d visited my aunt after her hip surgery last year.

Daniel was at work, and I was grateful for the solitude as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. These photos showed a moment that should have been the most significant part of my life.

But I remembered nothing. Not a single second.

A mustard-yellow chair in a room | Source: Midjourney

A mustard-yellow chair in a room | Source: Midjourney

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking as I gathered the photos and grabbed my car keys as soon as Daniel left for work the following morning.

I didn’t ask him anything as I wanted to find out about this mysterious baby on my own.

The hospital parking lot was nearly empty at 11 a.m. on that pleasant Tuesday. I sat in my car for five minutes, clutching the photos to my chest and trying to gather the courage to go inside.

A young mother walked past pushing a stroller, and my chest tightened with an emotion I couldn’t name.

A woman pushing a baby stroller | Source: Pexels

A woman pushing a baby stroller | Source: Pexels

The reception area smelled of antiseptic and floor cleaner. A young woman with bright blue scrubs and a butterfly-shaped name tag looked up as I approached.

“Hi,” I said. “I need to access some old records of mine.”

“Look at this,” I then added, showing her the pictures. “Whose baby is this? Why am I holding it? I don’t remember anything. What’s happening?”

Without answering, she typed something on her phone and then frowned at her screen. Her fingers paused over the keypad.

“One moment, please!” she said, disappearing into a back office, whispering urgently to someone.

A hospital staff in scrubs | Source: Pexels

A hospital staff in scrubs | Source: Pexels

An older nurse emerged, her hair pulled back in a neat bun, her name tag reading “Nancy, Head Nurse.” Her eyes held a mix of concern and recognition that made my stomach twist.

“Miss, we do have records for you here, but we’ll need to contact your husband before we can discuss them.”

My stomach dropped. “What? Why?”

“Hospital policy, in cases like this. Please, let me call him now.”

A hospital staff holding documents | Source: Pexels

A hospital staff holding documents | Source: Pexels

“No, these are my medical records. I have a right to know—”

But Nancy was already picking up the phone, her eyes never leaving my face. She dialed, and I heard the ring through the receiver.

“Sir? This is Nancy from St. Mary’s Hospital. Yes… your wife Angela is here requesting access to some medical records. Yes… I see… Could you come down right away? Yes, it’s about that… Thank you.”

A nurse holding a smartphone | Source: Pexels

A nurse holding a smartphone | Source: Pexels

My hands clenched into fists. “You know my husband? You have his number?”

“He’ll be here in 20 minutes. Would you like some water while you wait?”

“No. I want answers.”

I sank into a plastic chair, the photos clutched to my chest.

Every minute that ticked by on the waiting room clock felt like an eternity. When Daniel finally arrived, still in his work clothes, his face was ashen. He’d clearly driven here at full speed.

“Angela??”

A startled man in a hospital | Source: Midjourney

A startled man in a hospital | Source: Midjourney

“What’s going on, Dan? Why do they have your number? Why won’t they talk to me without you?”

He turned to Nancy. “Is Dr. Peters available?”

The doctor’s office was small, with certificates covering one wall and a small window overlooking the parking lot. Dr. Peters was a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and worry lines around her mouth. She folded her hands on her desk as we sat down.

“Tell her,” Dr. Peters said. “Your wife deserves to know everything.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. “Know what? What’s going on?”

A doctor in her office | Source: Pexels

A doctor in her office | Source: Pexels

Daniel leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Six years ago, my sister Fiona came to us with a request. Do you remember how long she and Jack had been trying to have a baby?”

“Your sister? What does she have to do with this?”

“The fertility treatments weren’t working. The IVF failed three times,” he swallowed hard. “She asked if you would consider being her surrogate. And you said… yes.”

The world tilted sideways. “No. That’s not… I would remember that. A pregnancy? Being a surrogate? No, I wouldn’t—”

A shocked woman looking up | Source: Midjourney

A shocked woman looking up | Source: Midjourney

“You were so determined to help her, Angel. You said it was the greatest gift you could give your sister-in-law. The pregnancy went perfectly. You were glowing and so happy to be helping them. But when the baby was was born—”

Dr. Peters spoke up. “You experienced a severe psychological break after delivery, Angela. The maternal hormones and bonding process were stronger than anyone anticipated. You refused to let go of the baby. When they tried to take him to Fiona, you became hysterical.”

I pressed my hands against my temples. “Stop. Please stop.”

Grayscale shot of a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

Grayscale shot of a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

“Your mind protected itself,” Dr. Peters explained gently. “It’s called dissociative amnesia. Your psyche built a wall around the memories to shield you from the trauma of the separation. In cases of severe emotional distress, the mind can—”

“You’re telling me I forgot an entire pregnancy? A whole baby? That’s not possible! I would know. My body would know. My heart would know.”

“Angel,” Daniel reached for my hand. But I jerked away so violently my chair scraped against the floor.

Portrait of a distressed man | Source: Midjourney

Portrait of a distressed man | Source: Midjourney

“Don’t touch me! You knew? All this time, you knew? Every time we talked about maybe having kids someday, every time we walked past a baby store… you knew I had carried a child? Given birth? And given him away like he was some freaking toy?”

“Where is he?” I demanded, my throat raw and eyes red-rimmed from crying.

“Fiona moved to the countryside shortly after. The doctors thought the distance would help you recover.”

A teary-eyed woman | Source: Unsplash

A teary-eyed woman | Source: Unsplash

“So everyone just decided?” I laughed. “Everyone just chose to let me forget my own—” I couldn’t say the word. Couldn’t acknowledge what I’d lost. “Six years? Six birthdays, first steps, first words?”

“We thought we were protecting you.”

“By lying? By watching me live in ignorance? Did you all get together and plan this? Have meetings about how to keep me in the dark?”

“By letting you heal,” Dr. Peters interjected softly. “The mind can only handle so much pain, Angela. Your psyche chose this path for a reason.”

A frustrated woman | Source: Pexels

A frustrated woman | Source: Pexels

I dashed out of the hospital as fast as my legs could carry me. Daniel caught up, ushering me into the car. I was a total mess. My fragile heart was shattered beyond repair.

That night, I slept in our guest room, surrounded by the photos.

I studied each one until my eyes burned, trying to force my mind to remember. The way I touched his tiny face. The tears on my cheeks. The love in my eyes.

I pressed my hand against my stomach, trying to imagine him there, growing, moving, being part of me. But nothing came back. Nothing.

A sad woman sitting on the bed | Source: Pexels

A sad woman sitting on the bed | Source: Pexels

“Can we see him?” I asked Daniel the next day.

“We should probably ask Fiona first,” he said, his voice uncertain. “But if you’re sure, I think she’ll be okay with it.”

It took a week to convince Fiona to let us visit. Seven days of negotiations through Daniel, because I couldn’t bear to speak to her directly. Not yet.

How do you talk to someone who has your child? Who took your child?

After countless phone calls and messages, Fiona finally agreed.

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

A man talking on the phone | Source: Pexels

The drive to the countryside was endless. I watched the landscape change through the window, each mile bringing me closer to a truth I wasn’t sure I could face.

Fields gave way to forests, forests to suburbs. All the while, my mind spun with questions.

Would he look like me? Would some part of him recognize me? Would I feel anything at all? Would he come running to me?

Aerial view of a car on the road | Source: Unsplash

Aerial view of a car on the road | Source: Unsplash

Fiona’s house was everything I’d imagined during those sleepless nights. Perfect lawn, flowers in window boxes, a red bicycle leaning against the porch, and a tire swing. Wind chimes tinkled softly and the delicious smell of something cooking wafted in the air.

My legs shook so badly I could barely walk to the door.

Fiona stood there, just as I remembered her from the family pictures. But her eyes were cautious, teary, and guarded, like a watchful mother’s.

“Angela,” she said softly. “Come in.”

A teary-eyed woman looking at someone | Source: Pexels

A teary-eyed woman looking at someone | Source: Pexels

My gaze swept across the room, searching for the little one who held the key to my forgotten past.

And there he was, peeking around the corner. Dark curls like mine and those familiar eyes. My heart squeezed so tight I couldn’t breathe.

My son! My baby! I longed to scream, to run to him, to hold him tight. But I stood rooted to the spot, numb with heartache.

“Tommy,” Fiona called, “come meet your Aunt Angela.”

A little boy wearing a hat | Source: Unsplash

A little boy wearing a hat | Source: Unsplash

He approached shyly, a toy dinosaur clutched in one hand. “Hello, Aunt Angela.”

“Hello, Tommy!” I said, his name feeling like a prayer on my tongue.

He studied me with those big, brown eyes, head tilted slightly. “Want to see my room? I have a bunk bed! And a T-Rex that roars when you push its belly.”

“I’d love that, sweetie.”

A woman with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney

A woman with her eyes downcast | Source: Midjourney

As he led me upstairs, chattering about his dinosaur collection and his best friend Jake and how he could ride his bike without training wheels now, I felt it.

Not a memory exactly, but an echo. A ghost of what we might have been. Of all the moments I should have had.

Later that night, in our hotel room, I took out the photos one last time. The woman in them wasn’t a stranger anymore. I understood her joy, her pain, and her sacrifice even if I couldn’t remember feeling them myself.

A woman holding a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

A woman holding a newborn baby | Source: Unsplash

I touched the image of the baby, my finger tracing his tiny photostatic features.

“You okay?” Daniel asked from the doorway.

“No. But I think I will be.”

I slipped the photos back into an envelope. Some memories might stay lost and buried under years of protective fog. But now I had something more precious than memories: I had truth. And somehow, in that truth, I found the peace I didn’t know I’d been missing.

It would take time to fully come to terms with my truth, but this was a step in the right direction.

A woman holding an envelope | Source: Pexels

A woman holding an envelope | Source: Pexels

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

Miss Nepal Is Facing “Cruel” Reactions for Her Participation in Miss Universe 2023

Over the 71-year history of Miss Universe, this marks the very first participation of a plus-sized contestant. The 22-year-old Miss Nepal has etched her name in history by confidently showcasing her stunning physique. While many people rallied behind her, praising her beauty, a significant portion of the global audience also levied criticism. She candidly addressed these comments, shedding light on her experiences.

She glowed with confidence.

Moises Castillo/Associated Press/East News

Jane Dipika Garrett expressed her pleasant surprise at the extent of her progress in the competition that took place in November 2023. Having harbored dreams of becoming a model, she confronted past struggles with low self-esteem. The overwhelmingly positive response she received during the competition served as a validating experience, and solidified her newfound confidence in embracing her own identity.

© international_poll / Instagram

Garrett noted that she “did not expect to get that much applause on the stage.” She went on to explain that she “wasn’t expecting anything” and was only participating to represent her country and “to represent women all over the world.”

Opinions were divided.

© jadedipika_ / Instagram

Despite being praised by many around the world for her gorgeous looks, the 22-year-old said that she had also faced harsh criticism from many people. She admitted that some incoming messages were less than positive, reaching the point of being described as “cruel.”

Jane revealed, “I see things like, ’Oh, she’s a whale,’ or ’Why don’t you go to the gym?’ And things like that.” She continued, “It’s like they don’t even know my story. They don’t even know what I’m going through.”

She’s not letting her struggles stop her dreams.

© Miss Universe / YouTube, MARVIN RECINOS/AFP/East News

The beauty contestant clarified that she grapples with a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This medical condition involves the overproduction of androgens by the ovaries, surpassing the typical levels found in women. PCOS manifests with various effects, including weight gain, menstrual irregularities, acne, and excess hair growth.

© Miss Universe / YouTube© Miss Universe / YouTube

She noted that recently she had gained a lot of weight due to her condition, stating, ’’that’s also really taken a toll on my mental health and my self-esteem because I thought that I wasn’t good enough or that I wasn’t beautiful enough.’’

Nevertheless, Garrett underwent a journey of cultivating a positive mindset and finding comfort in her own skin. Observing her radiant confidence on stage, it’s evident that she has successfully achieved this self-acceptance journey.

We concur that Miss Nepal looks absolutely stunning, and we consider it a significant stride for the Miss Universe competition to embrace and celebrate the beauty and diversity of women’s bodies in all shapes and sizes. To delve further into the realm of Miss Universe and discover how previous winners are looking today, we invite you to explore this article.

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