“Play dumb. And I’ll take all the food. I’m ashamed to have such a big daughter-in-law. She’s too fat,” Noele continued, her voice dripping with disdain.
I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. Three years ago, I gave birth to our son at 40, and my body never bounced back.
I worked long hours to support our family, and I even helped Noele financially when she needed it. How could she say such hurtful things about me?
I put down my knitting and stared at the wall, trying to process what I’d just heard. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I didn’t want to cry, not now.
My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I realized I had been staring into space, my mind replaying last week’s events when Noele visited us.
I didn’t know all the missing food was her doing. She was sneakily removing food from the fridge because she didn’t want a fat woman in her son’s life.
I took a deep breath and checked the phone. It was a message from Alexander, my husband.
It said: “Hey honey, don’t wait up. My friends are insisting I stay over for a little more time :)”
Lately, he always seemed to have an excuse to stay away. I wondered if it was because of my weight, too. Did he really see me as an elephant?
I put my phone down and wiped my eyes. I needed to stay strong for my son. He was the light of my life, and I couldn’t let their hurtful words break me. But it wasn’t easy.
Every glance in the mirror reminded me of their conversation. Every meal I cooked felt like a betrayal.
I tried to focus on the positive. I had a good job, a beautiful son, and a home that I had worked hard to build. Noele’s comments couldn’t take that away from me. Yet, the pain lingered.
As I lay in bed that night, I kept replaying the conversation I had overheard. The sting of their insults was fresh, and the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
“I can’t believe they think this way about me,” I whispered to myself, glancing at Alexander, who slept soundly beside me. “I’m the one working and buying all the food.”
I sighed and stared at the ceiling. It wasn’t fair. I had always tried to be kind and supportive. I put everyone else’s needs before my own, but what did I get in return? Cruel words and hurtful remarks.
Suddenly, it hit me. I had been too kind for too long. It was time to stand up for myself. I deserved respect and appreciation, not insults and judgment. I turned to look at Alexander again.
He seemed so peaceful, completely oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me.
I couldn’t keep living like this, letting their words break me down. Tomorrow, I would start making changes. I wouldn’t let Noele’s hurtful comments dictate how I felt about myself. And I wouldn’t let Alexander’s silence continue.
He needed to know how his words, or lack thereof, were affecting me. We were supposed to be partners, a team. It was time for him to step up and support me.
I woke up early, determined to put my plan into action.
After breakfast, I decided to visit the Asian market to buy some unique ingredients. As I entered the market, the variety of products overwhelmed me, but I knew exactly what I was looking for.
“Excuse me,” I said to the vendor, picking up a jar. “How much is this?”
The vendor smiled and told me the price. “These are very popular,” he said. “Great for special recipes.”
“Perfect,” I replied, adding several jars to my basket. “I’ll take these.”
Once I had everything I needed, I headed home. Alexander was out, and I knew Noele was supposed to come over in the evening. I had the whole day to prepare.
I took a day off from work to make sure everything was perfect. First, I emptied our fridge of all the old food items.
Then, I carefully filled jars and bottles with the ‘unique’ groceries I had bought, making sure they looked like the regular food jars Noele was used to seeing. I even labeled a few of them with familiar names to complete the illusion.
“This should do it,” I muttered to myself, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
After setting up the camera to capture Noele’s reaction, I took a step back to admire my handiwork. Everything was in place, and now all I had to do was wait.
I spent the rest of the day tidying up and making sure there was no evidence of my plan.
As the evening approached, I felt a mix of anticipation and nerves.
Noele arrived right on time, and I made sure to be out of the house for a few hours, giving her the perfect opportunity to raid the fridge.
When I returned home, I walked into the kitchen to find Noele pale and shaking, holding a jar filled with live insects. Her eyes were wide with shock and anger.
“What the hell is this?!” she screamed, her voice trembling.
I put on my most innocent face. “Oh, Noele, what’s wrong? Did you find something you didn’t like?”
“These… these jars! They’re filled with bugs! And some of them are still alive! Are you insane?” she shouted, her hands shaking as she held up the jar.
“Oh, those?” I replied calmly. “I thought you might enjoy some exotic snacks. I hear they’re very nutritious.”
“This is disgusting! How could you do this?” she yelled, her face turning red with anger.
I took a deep breath. “How could I do this?” I snapped. “How could you steal from me and insult me behind my back? You thought I wouldn’t find out? You thought I wouldn’t hear you calling me an elephant and plotting to take all the food I buy with my hard-earned money?”
Noele’s face paled even more. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. I continued, my voice steady and firm.
“I’ve put up with your insults and disrespect for too long, Noele. I work hard to support this family, and all you do is take advantage of my kindness. Well, not anymore. This is my home, and you will respect it and me.”
At that moment, Alexander walked in, looking shocked and confused.
He glanced at the jar in Noele’s hand, then at me. “What’s going on here?”
“Oh, your mother is just discovering my special surprise for her,” I said calmly. “I decided to stock up on some unique groceries.”
Noele thrust the jar towards him. “She filled the fridge with insects! This is her idea of revenge!”
I wasn’t done yet.
“Actually,” I interjected, “it’s my idea of justice. You both thought you could humiliate me and take advantage of me. Well, now you know that actions have consequences. You don’t get to insult me and steal from me without facing the fallout.”
“This is outrageous! You’re out of your mind!” Noele shouted, her voice shaking with fury.
“Maybe,” I replied, meeting her glare. “Or maybe I’m just tired of being disrespected in my own home. You can leave now, and don’t bother coming back unless you plan to treat me with the respect I deserve.”
Noele stormed out, still clutching the jar, and Alexander stood there, speechless.
“I can’t believe you did that,” he finally said, his voice filled with shock. It was time to teach my husband a lesson.
“Believe it,” I said firmly. “And if you think for one second that I’ll tolerate this behavior from either of you again, think again. This is my house, and I won’t be treated like a doormat.”
Alexander looked down, his face flushed with embarrassment. “I… I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
“Sorry isn’t enough,” I replied.
“You need to earn back my trust and respect. Until then, don’t expect things to go back to normal. And I hope you’re looking for a job. Because you clearly don’t help me at home. Maybe if I have the time, I can focus on my health, yes?”
From that day forward, the dynamic in our house changed. Noele didn’t dare to show us her face since then, and Alexander had a lot to make up for. Sometimes, you have to take a stand and teach people that you won’t be pushed around.
Do you think I was right to take a stand for myself?
Days before she died, a courageous young girl was brought down the aisle by her father to marry her school sweetheart
If you ask any parent in the world, they’ll probably tell you that they would do anything for their child. Our lives transform in the most profound ways the day we become parents. We acknowledge that we will take care of, treasure, and worry about the new life we have brought into the world for the remainder of our days here on Earth.
However, regrettably, there are some things that parents are powerless to stop. Each year, far too many children suffer from circumstances and illnesses that are completely beyond their control. Accidents and disease are as much a part of human life as happiness and celebration.
The day Alina and Aaron Edwards found out that their nine-year-old daughter, Emma, had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, altered their entire world. They were dealt a heartbreaking blow when physicians informed them after a few months that there was nothing more they could do to save Emma’s life, despite their obvious anguish and desperation to hold onto the hope that she could overcome cancer.
With the limited time they had left, Emma’s anguished parents resolved to do everything in their power to grant their daughter’s desires. Of course, it goes without saying that the great majority of kids would relish the opportunity to meet a famous hero in such a situation, maybe go to Disneyland or watch their idol compete on the pitch.
Emma, however, had completely different wishes. She requested permission to wed DJ, her ten-year-old boyfriend. After Sunday, I will have so much more to say and so many people to thank, but for now, my brain is simply not working properly, and I
Emma’s campaign quickly gained a lot of support from her neighbourhood. The group of supporters and volunteers took on the moniker “Emma’s Army” and decided to fulfil this young girl’s aspirations before it was too late. Emma’s family eventually received assistance in raising money from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, be a wife, and have three kids,” Emma’s mother Alina clarified.
Reports state that Emma and DJ had attempted to get married before their “wedding.” When they were eight years old, the two kids attempted to tie the knot in school, choosing their own groomsmen and bridesmaids from among their peers. Sadly for Emma and DJ, though, their teacher would not allow the wedding to take place, no matter how informal.
But this time, their second attempt at marriage had the support of many wonderful people who wanted Emma to have the day of her dreams, as well as the approval of their parents. In less than two days, we put it together, and everything was donated in the end. It came together so beautifully and was so wonderful, Alina disclosed.
When the big day finally arrived, it was recorded on tape featuring interviews with a few guests, including the DJ and the groom. She struck me as the most gorgeous person I have ever laid eyes on. I’ve adored her ever since,” DJ remarked. Alina, on the other hand, was gushing about her daughter’s charming young partner. She sent a tearful message on Facebook that said
Since third grade, DJ has been Emma’s “Boo bear.” I promise that watching these two adorable together will make your heart melt. Her heart leaps when DJ helps and shields her. She adores him. I also know that he adores her! He has supported her through all of her highs and lows, never letting her smile. DJ and his family will always remain connected.
Emma’s big day finally arrived on June 29 when she arrived at the location pushed by her parents in a wheelchair. For the event, she dressed elegantly in purple, and she grinned as her father led her down the aisle. After exchanging vows and rings, Emma and DJ finished the ceremony with a kiss from DJ to his bride.
Emma went back to her bed to recuperate after the wedding, but everyone could see how happy she was to have experienced her special day. After her battle, young Emma passed away a few weeks later on July 11, 2023.
Emma’s obituary stated: “On July 11, 2023, Emma Brooks Edwards passed away and was embraced by her closest loved ones as she entered paradise in the tender arms of her great-grandma Frannie Annie. Emma, then ten years old, fought leukaemia, dubbed “The imposter,” for sixteen months.
The Edwards family was completed with the birth of Emma, our little unicorn, on April 22, 2013, to devoted parents and three elder siblings. She cherished DIY projects, clever jokes, her loved ones, Jesus, and her brand-new “husband,” DJ. To everyone she encountered and to those who loved her, Emma was an inspiration. She was the most wonderful friend, cousin, aunt, “wife,” haha, sister, grandchild, and cousin. Her legacy is one of humour, fortitude, and unending love for everyone.
Emma, rest in peace. A young girl of such beauty, taken far too soon. Please join us in extending our condol
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