Grief plays tricks on the mind, but this? This was real. Kelly knew her husband’s voice, and she’d just heard it… coming from her daughter’s room. A chill ran down her spine. Jeremy had been dead for two years. So who — or what — was speaking in his voice? Then she stepped inside… and FROZE.
I’m Kelly. I’m 30, and my life has been a rollercoaster of love and loss. My husband, Jeremy, died in a car accident two years ago. I was eight months pregnant with our daughter, Sophia. One moment, I was painting flowers on the walls of her nursery, dreaming about our future. The next, I was getting a phone call that shattered my world.
A pregnant woman looking at her phone | Source: Pexels
I remember that moment like it was yesterday. The paintbrush slipped from my fingers, leaving a trail of pink down the wall.
“Miss Kelly?” the voice on the phone was gentle, practiced. “This is Officer Reynolds…”
“Yes?” My hand instinctively went to my swollen belly. Sophia kicked, as if sensing my fear.
“There’s been an accident. Your husband…”
“No,” I whispered. “No, please…”
A startled woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
They told me the crash was bad — so bad that I shouldn’t see his body. I never got to say goodbye. Just a closed casket at the funeral, and that was it.
“Kelly, honey,” my mom had said at the funeral, holding me as I sobbed. “You need to stay strong. For the baby.”
“How?” I choked out. “How am I supposed to do this without him? He was supposed to be here. He was supposed to hold her…”
Men carrying a coffin | Source: Pexels
Two years later, I was doing my best to keep going, to be strong for Sophia. But the emptiness? It never really left.
And then, two days ago, something happened that made me question everything.
It was just a regular afternoon. I had put Sophia down for her nap in her bedroom and curled up on the couch with a book. The house was quiet. Peaceful.
Until I heard it.
The sound of a window shutting. Not loud — just enough to make me glance up. Probably the wind, I thought. But then, my blood ran cold when I… Oh my God… when I heard JEREMY’S VOICE:
“I love you forever.”
I swear to God, my whole body turned to ice.
It wasn’t a muffled memory in my head. It wasn’t wishful thinking. It was CLEAR AS DAY.
A terrified woman | Source: Midjourney
I sat frozen, my breath caught in my throat. My ears were ringing. My heart pounded so hard I thought I might pass out.
“Jeremy?” I whispered into the silence, my voice trembling. “Baby, is that you?”
No. No, no, no. Jeremy was gone. This was NOT POSSIBLE.
But I heard it. Again.
“I love you forever.”
It was coming from Sophia’s room.
A frantic woman standing at the doorway | Source: Midjourney
I shot up so fast the book tumbled off my lap. My mind raced with possibilities — was someone in there? Was I hallucinating?
Was Jeremy ALIVE?
I rushed down the hallway, barely feeling my feet hit the floor. My hands were ice-cold, and my stomach churned like I might throw up.
“Please,” I whispered as I ran, tears already forming. “Please, if you’re there…”
I pushed open Sophia’s door.
A terrified woman walking into a room | Source: Midjourney
She was sound asleep in her crib, curled up in a little ball, her tiny fingers clutching a teddy bear. The room was just as I had left it. No open windows. No shadows in the corner. Nothing.
But then, I heard it again.
“I love you forever.”
I swore my heart stopped.
“Jeremy?” My voice cracked. “Is this some kind of cruel joke? Please… I can’t… I can’t take this…”
I scanned the room, my hands shaking as I moved toward the window. Something had to explain this.
A little girl fast asleep while holding a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
My fingers brushed against the glass. It was shut. Locked. Outside, a small tree branch rested against the pane, broken like it had fallen against it.
Okay. That explained the noise. But Jeremy’s voice?
My eyes darted back to Sophia. She stirred in her sleep, hugging the bear tighter.
“Dada,” she murmured in her sleep, and my heart shattered all over again.
And then it hit me.
The bear.
I dropped to my knees beside her crib, hands trembling as I reached for it. Pressed it.
“I love you forever.”
My chest squeezed so tight I thought I might collapse.
A startled woman holding a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
Jeremy’s voice… It was coming from the bear.
“Oh God,” I sobbed, clutching the bear to my chest. “Oh God, Jeremy…”
I sat on the couch, staring at the bear like it might come to life.
I had no memory of buying this. Had someone given it to Sophia?
And then I remembered. A week ago, we had celebrated Sophia’s second birthday. My mother-in-law, Gloria, had given her this bear.
A little girl celebrating her 2nd birthday | Source: Pexels
“Look what Grandma got you!” I had said, trying to sound cheerful despite the ache in my chest. Another birthday without Jeremy.
I had barely looked at it at the time. It was just another stuffed animal.
But now? Now I needed answers. So I called Gloria.
She picked up on the second ring. “Kelly, hi, sweetie! Everything okay?”
An older woman holding her phone | Source: Midjourney
I gripped the bear tighter. “Did you know this thing plays Jeremy’s voice?”
Silence.
Then, a quiet, almost hesitant, “Oh… did it finally play?”
My stomach twisted. “Finally? What do you mean FINALLY?”
Gloria sighed. “I was wondering when you’d hear it.”
I sat up straighter. “Gloria. What did you do?”
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
“Kelly, please,” her voice wavered. “Just let me explain…”
“Explain what?” I demanded, my voice rising. “Explain why you thought it was okay to… to…”
I couldn’t even finish the sentence.
Gloria showed up an hour later, looking almost nervous. She sat across from me, hands folded, eyes scanning my face.
“I just… I thought it would help,” she said softly.
I placed the bear between us. “Help who?”
Two women talking to each other | Source: Midjourney
She exhaled. “Sophia. And you.”
I stared at her.
“Kelly,” she reached across the table, taking my hand. “Every time Sophia asks about her daddy… every time I see you trying to explain… it breaks my heart.”
“And you don’t think this breaks mine?” My voice cracked. “To hear his voice again, out of nowhere?”
Gloria swallowed. “After Jeremy died, I kept thinking about how Sophia would never know her dad’s voice. So I took a recording from your wedding video. You remember his vows?”
My throat closed.
“‘I love you forever,’” she whispered.
Oh my God.
A woman overwhelmed with emotions | Source: Midjourney
“I remember,” I choked out. “He… he practiced those vows for weeks. Said he had to get them perfect…”
She clasped her hands together. “I had it sewn into the bear before her birthday. I wanted her to have a piece of him. To know he’s always with her.”
I blinked hard, staring at the table, my mind spinning.
She had meant well. I knew that. But I felt so blindsided.
“Gloria,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “You should have told me.”
“I know,” she admitted with a fragile smile. “I just… I didn’t want to upset you.”
An older woman smiling | Source: Midjourney
“Upset me?” I laughed bitterly. “I thought I was going crazy. I thought… for a moment, I thought he was…”
“Alive?” Gloria finished softly. “Oh, sweetheart…”
She moved around the table, pulling me into her arms as I broke down.
“I miss him so much,” I sobbed. “Every single day…”
“I know,” she stroked my hair. “He would be so proud of you, Kelly. So proud of how you’re raising Sophia.”
I didn’t know what to say.
I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t relieved. I was just… overwhelmed.
A distressed woman | Source: Midjourney
That night, I sat in Sophia’s room, watching her sleep. The bear was in my lap. My fingers traced the soft fabric as I stared at my little girl — the daughter Jeremy never got to meet.
She looked so much like him. The same curve to her nose, the same dimple when she smiled, and the same sparkling blue eyes.
“You would have loved her so much,” I whispered into the darkness. “She’s perfect, Jeremy. Just perfect.”
I pressed the bear one last time as a familiar voice filled the room and my heart:
“I love you forever.”
A lump formed in my throat. I wiped my eyes quickly, swallowing down the ache.
I missed him.
A heartbroken woman holding a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
Sophia stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “Mama?”
“Hey, baby girl,” I whispered, reaching to stroke her cheek.
“Bear?” She reached for the teddy.
I handed it to her, watching as she pressed it to her chest. Jeremy’s voice filled the room again.
“That’s your daddy,” I told her, my voice thick with tears. “He loves you so, so much.”
A cheerful little girl holding a teddy bear | Source: Midjourney
“Dada?” She looked at the bear with wide eyes, then back at me.
“Yes, sweetheart. That’s Dada.”
She hugged the bear tighter, closing her eyes. “Love Dada.”
And for so long, I thought I had lost everything. But here, in my daughter’s arms, was a piece of him.
I leaned down and kissed Sophia’s forehead.
“You’ll always have him with you, my sweet girl,” I whispered. “Always.”
The grief was still there. It always would be.
But for the first time in a long, long time… I didn’t feel so alone.
A grieving woman holding herself together | Source: Midjourney
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.
Velho vende mala surrada, todos o ignoram, exceto o menino coxo que concorda em comprá-la — História do dia
Um garoto vai ao mercado de pulgas para comprar fitas de música antigas, mas tem pena de um senhor idoso que está vendendo uma mala velha, e esse ato de gentileza muda sua vida.
A vida de Martin Farmer não era fácil e continha poucos prazeres. Ele tinha dezessete anos, mas já carregava um pesado fardo de responsabilidade. Sua mãe estava doente, e seu pai havia falecido dois anos antes, deixando-o como o homem da casa.
Pouco depois disso, um acidente de moto deixou Martin com ferimentos graves na perna esquerda, o que encerrou sua brilhante carreira no futebol, e ele estava contando com o futebol para pagar sua faculdade…
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Unsplash
O dinheiro era curto, então Martin trabalhava depois da escola todos os dias e o dia todo aos sábados para sobreviver e ajudar a pagar os remédios da mãe. De vez em quando, ele tirava US$ 5 de suas economias e ia ao mercado de pulgas local para procurar fitas de música antigas dos anos 80 e 90.
Essas viagens mensais ao mercado de pulgas eram seu único prazer — seu único hobby. Naquele domingo, Martin estava se recuperando de uma semana particularmente difícil. Ele havia trabalhado duro, mas as contas médicas de sua mãe tinham chegado pelo correio.
O salário da semana não era suficiente para manter os lobos afastados para sempre, Martin sabia disso. Ele e a mãe tiveram uma discussão acalorada na noite de sábado. Ele queria largar a escola e trabalhar em tempo integral, mas a mãe discordou.
Esta manhã ele acordou cedo, fez o café da manhã para ela e então foi para o mercado de pulgas. Pelo menos por algumas horas, ele pararia de pensar em seus problemas.
Era uma manhã linda, então a feira estava cheia de pessoas vasculhando o lixo e os tesouros da vida de outras pessoas, e Martin foi até um vendedor em particular que ele conhecia bem.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Unsplash
Ele estava de pé ao lado da mesa do homem, examinando um tesouro de fitas antigas quando um velho chegou e montou uma pilha de bolsas e malas velhas na porta ao lado. O homem imediatamente começou a anunciar seus produtos:
“Malas, bolsas e pastas!” ele gritou com sua velha voz rachada. “Cinco dólares cada, a melhor pechincha da sua vida!”
Uma mulher que passava parou, olhou e cheirou. “Tralha velha é o que você tem! Tem tanto mofo nessa mala que ela provavelmente vai se desfazer!”
“Vá em frente, moça!” o velho se virou. “Ajude um velho! Estou limpando meus velhos tesouros e com certeza posso usar o dinheiro! As coisas estão difíceis…”
Outro homem passou e cutucou uma maleta com o pé. “Velho, eu não daria nem um dólar por esse pedaço de lixo! Você não vai vender nada!”
Milagres acontecem onde e quando menos esperamos.
O velho balançou a cabeça. “Você está errado. A pessoa certa vai aparecer porque isso aqui é uma mala cheia de esperança”, ele disse. “Porque parece uma mala para você, mas eu prometo a você, é um sonho se tornando realidade!”
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
Martin sorriu. Ele se virou para o homem e disse: “Eu poderia usar muita esperança agora mesmo! Quanto custa o sonho se tornando realidade?”
“Jovem”, disse o velho sorrindo alegremente. “Esta maravilha aqui é 100% couro legítimo, feita na década de 1930, e pode ser sua por apenas $5!”
Sorrindo, Martin pescou no bolso sua única nota de $5 e entregou ao homem. “Aqui está”, ele disse.
O homem estava sorrindo enormemente, e ele agarrou a mão de Martin. “Você é um garoto gentil”, ele disse. “E você merece o que está recebendo!”
Martin riu, pegou a velha mala que era muito mais pesada do que ele imaginava e acenou um adeus pesaroso para o músico. “Da próxima vez!”, ele prometeu e foi para casa almoçar.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
Quando ele chegou em casa, sua mãe reclamou da mala imediatamente. “Martin! Você teve que comprar tralha? Já temos o suficiente disso! Coloque na garagem ou vai encher a casa de poeira!”
Martin obedientemente carregou a mala para a garagem. Ele estava prestes a colocá-la em cima de uma mesa velha quando mais uma vez percebeu o quão pesada ela era. Ele abriu a mala e ficou surpreso ao ver que ela estava cheia de pacotes embrulhados em jornal.
Curioso, ele rasgou o jornal e encontrou um maço de notas de $20! Rapidamente Martin desembrulhou os outros pacotes. Era tudo dinheiro! Milhares de dólares, centenas de milhares de dólares!
Martin gritou por sua mãe e ela veio correndo. Ela ficou sem palavras ao ver as pilhas de dinheiro. Ela não reclamou da poeira…
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
Naquela noite, Martin e sua mãe contaram e recontaram o dinheiro. Havia $300.000! “Há o suficiente para as contas médicas e os medicamentos…” disse Martin.
“Ah, e para a faculdade”, disse a mãe de Martin. “E talvez então a gente pague a hipoteca…”
“Mas mãe”, Martin disse suavemente. “Não é nosso dinheiro. O homem me vendeu esta mala por cinco dólares e ele parecia muito pobre. Tenho certeza de que ele não sabia sobre o dinheiro.”
A Sra. Farmer cuidadosamente colocou todo o dinheiro de volta na mala velha. “Nesse caso, você tem que encontrá-lo, Martin”, ela disse. “E devolver tudo a ele.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Unsplash
Nas três semanas seguintes, Martin assombrou os mercados de rua e mercados de pulgas procurando pelo velho, mas ele não estava em lugar nenhum. Então, um dia, ele o viu em um ponto de ônibus, carregando outra mala velha.
“Espere!” Martin gritou. “Escute, você se lembra de mim? Você me vendeu uma mala velha? Eu tenho que devolvê-la para você!”
“Devolver?” perguntou o velho. “Eu não quero de volta!”
“Por favor, você não entende”, disse Martin. “A mala estava cheia de dinheiro, seu dinheiro!”
Apenas para fins ilustrativos. | Fonte: Pexels
O velho começou a rir. “Eu sei DISSO!” ele disse. “Você se lembra do que eu te disse? A mala estava cheia de esperança e sonhos se tornando realidade. É para isso que ela serve. Use-a bem.”
O velho se virou e começou a ir embora, mas Martin correu atrás dele. “Mas eu pensei que você fosse pobre!”
O homem sorriu. “Não, filho. Sou um homem que passou a vida inteira ganhando dinheiro e agora descubro que tenho mais do que qualquer um deveria ter. Então, dou para aqueles que são gentis o suficiente para ajudar os necessitados. E esse é você!”
Martin foi para casa e contou à mãe a história do velho. Eles decidiram usar o dinheiro para ajudá-la a melhorar e pagar a faculdade dele, e daquele dia em diante, eles incluíram o Suitcase Man em suas orações.
O que podemos aprender com essa história?
- Milagres são encontrados onde e quando menos esperamos. Martin e sua mãe estavam no fim da corda quando encontraram o dinheiro na mala.
- Atos de gentileza são sempre recompensados. Martin gastou seus preciosos $5 para ajudar um homem que ele achava que era mais pobre do que ele e recebeu um presente que fez seus sonhos se tornarem realidade.
Compartilhe esta história com seus amigos. Pode alegrar o dia deles e inspirá-los.
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