I'm Eloise. I've been living alone for a long time with my six-year-old daughter Isla. Our house is small and life is hard, but I do everything for her.
Every day, I wake up early to prepare his breakfast — usually just toast with a little jam, or cereal if we're in a hurry.
“Mom, please add more jam to my jam today,” Isla requested one morning.
"Just a little, so we can have something tomorrow," I replied while stroking his head.
After dropping Isla off at school, I went straight to work. It was hard and tiring, but absolutely necessary for us.
Every night, when we get home, we have a simple dinner—just pasta or scrambled eggs. Then, Isla and I play in the living room; her happy laughter makes me feel better no matter how many problems I have.
But despite working two jobs, we still had a hard time surviving. The bills kept increasing, and sometimes, it felt like I couldn't afford it anymore.
One night, as I was looking at another bill that was too big, I was surprised when Margaret, my step-aunt and practically the only family I had left, suddenly walked in.
“Eloise, you look so tired,” he began, while looking at the clutter in the living room and the laundry in the corner.
"If you had just followed my advice then, you wouldn't be so pushy now," he added, sounding like a teacher in a classroom.
I forced a smile and smiled. “I’m doing my best, Margaret.”
“Remember, all of this is for Isla. She needs a stable life,” he reminded me as I tried to hide my annoyance.
"Can I keep the house? Of course, you just have to sign the papers," he added, unable to hide his desire to own our house.
I know what that means — he wants to take our home.
One day, while busy with work, I thought about renting a room to help pay the bills. Fate brought me to Marco, a stranger with a kind smile and who also seemed to have a story of hardship in life.
At first, everything went well. Marco was quiet, unobtrusive, and seemed reliable.
But as time went on, I noticed that he often walked around deep in thought. Sometimes he would shake his head, as if he was going through something.
One night, when I couldn't bear the curiosity any longer, I approached him.
"Marco, are you okay? It seems like you're taking on a heavy responsibility."
He shook his head. “There are just some things in life that aren't easy to deal with. But thanks for your concern, Eloise.”
A few weeks later, I happened to see Margaret talking to Marco outside the house. I couldn't understand why they were talking like that.
I asked myself: What is their real connection?
I couldn't stop myself from asking Marco directly.
“Marco, who is Margaret in your life?”
He sighed before answering. “She is my mother.”
I was shocked. “You didn’t tell me you had a family.”
"Yes, it's been a while since I last saw Margaret. She has a lot to sort out on her own," he replied.
I don't know why, but I felt like I wanted to help Marco. In those moments, it felt like the weight of my world had lifted.
After a few months, Margaret gradually changed. She was no longer bold or judgmental. I saw that she also wanted to fix Marco's relationship with me, as well as Isla's life.
In the end, I learned that life is full of surprises. Not all strangers are enemies, and sometimes, the people you think are your enemies can be the path to change.
Now, Marco and I don't just know each other—we're like family.
And the house that was once full of problems and worries, is now filled with hope and love.
