All Chapters of Leaving Heartbreaks Behind: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

I smiled softly and pushed the cake toward her. She looked like she hadn’t eaten in days, and within minutes, she devoured the entire slice. A bit of cream lingered at the corner of her mouth.I had rushed out without even grabbing a tissue, and I was about to turn to her parents but then I suddenly realized that she was by herself. Confused, I asked her, “Are you alone? Where’s your mom?” She pouted, her eyes reddening as she lowered her head. “My mom got off the train yesterday with my little brother. She told me to stay seated until we reached the last stop, then someone would come get me.” That’s when it hit me. I asked the attendant for help, and after some investigation, I learned that the woman who had brought her on board had quietly gotten off hours earlier. In other words, the little girl had been abandoned on the train. As we neared the station, she clung to my leg. Tears were streaming down her face as she begged, “Miss, please! I heard children in foster

“I will contact a lawyer to discuss the divorce proceedings as soon as possible. Don’t worry, I won’t regret it. Just don't bother me again.” I answered coldly and hung up the phone. I had a gambler’s spirit of accepting my losses and the courage to start over. After all, it was only ten years—I could afford to lose. I had come from a small town and I used to feel insecure about it, but now, it gave me an incredible sense of peace. In the meantime, I found a job cooking at an orphanage as I have always liked children. I never expected that on my first day at work, I would run into the little girl from the train. She stood timidly among the children, looking at me with a hopeful gaze. I gently patted her head and smiled at her. I reached into my bag, pulled out some candy I had prepared earlier, and placed it in her hand. We quickly became familiar with each other. She told me her name was Sapphire like the gemstone.She said that when she was born, she had been t

On the way home from Nathan’s school, I passed by the fast-food restaurant that he had always wanted to eat at, but I had never allowed. On a whim, I decided to stop and buy him a hamburger. Then through the glass window, I saw Christopher sitting with Nathan and Janine. They were eating all the junk food I had always forbidden. I stood outside and listened as Nathan spoke."Miss Janine, my grandmother said that Dad was supposed to marry you but my mom crawled into his bed when he was drunk. Don’t worry, I’ll help you get rid of her."Christopher smiled at him, neither confirming nor denying the words. I wanted to rush in and tell Nathan it wasn’t like that. It was Christopher who had used my love to quash his mother’s wish for him to marry Janine. He said he was still young, that he wasn’t ready to settle down. He did not want to marry either Janine or me. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant with Nathan, I probably wouldn’t have married him either. He had turned a small mi

Christopher's face turned ghostly pale. After a few minutes, he suddenly stood up, his chair toppling over with the force of his movement. Grinding his teeth, he grabbed Nathan’s wrist and said in a low voice, "Let's go. We should leave. Don't come back to disturb your Mom again."For the first time, Nathan lost control in front of me. He struggled against Christopher's grip, then threw himself into my arms."I won’t leave. I want to stay with Mom! You lied to me! Mom isn’t as bad as you said!” he cried."Mom, please don’t abandon me. I’ll eat the meals you make me. I’ll do my homework and I won’t buy those expensive toys anymore."I’m easy to take care of. I promise I won’t trouble you. Please, keep me here."I reached out and pushed him away. He couldn’t stop himself and fell to the ground.His expression of grievance mirrored the times when I would come home, and he’d throw a tantrum, crying and demanding attention from me.But things are different now. I wouldn’t soften