What happens when the joy of welcoming a newborn is eclipsed by betrayal, cruelty, or heartbreaking abandonment? These four emotional stories reveal how families navigated the deepest wounds caused by those they loved most… stories that will leave you gripping your heart.
A newborn’s cry should be the sound of hope, love, and new beginnings. But for these families, the arrival of their children was met with betrayal, manipulation, and heartbreak. Each story reveals the raw reality of navigating parenthood while enduring the deepest wounds inflicted by those closest to them.
A newborn baby | Source: Unsplash
Story 1: I Went to Pick Up My Wife and Newborn Twins from the Hospital — I Found Only the Babies and a Note
I was all smiles driving to the hospital that day, balloons bobbing beside me. I couldn’t wait to bring Suzie and our newborn twin daughters, Callie and Jessica, home. I’d spent days perfecting the nursery, cooking a family dinner, and planning a warm welcome. But when I arrived, everything unraveled.
Suzie was gone.
A man holding balloons | Source: Midjourney
I found my daughters sleeping peacefully in their bassinets and a note waiting for me:
“Goodbye. Take care of them. Ask your mother WHY she did this to me.”
The words hit like a freight train. My hands shook as I reread them. This wasn’t real… couldn’t be. Suzie was happy, wasn’t she?
A man reading a note | Source: Midjourney
A nurse entered with discharge paperwork, but her calm expression crumbled when I demanded to know where Suzie was. “She checked out this morning,” she said nervously. “She told us you knew.”
I didn’t know. I drove home in a daze, my daughters in the backseat, and the note crumpled in my fist. At home, my mom, Mandy, greeted me on the porch with a bright smile and a casserole dish.
“Oh, let me see my grandbabies!” she exclaimed.
An excited woman | Source: Midjourney
I stepped back, holding the car seat protectively. “Not yet, Mom,” I said coldly, thrusting the note at her. “What did you do to Suzie?”
Her smile faded, and as she read the note, her face paled. “Ben, I don’t know—”
“Don’t lie to me! You’ve never liked her! You’ve always criticized and undermined her. What did you do that pushed her to take this extreme step?”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she ran inside the house. “I’ve only ever tried to help.”
A woman reading a note | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t trust her anymore. That night, while the twins slept, I searched for answers. In Suzie’s things, I found a letter in my mom’s handwriting:
“Suzie, you’ll never be good enough for my son. You’ve trapped him with this pregnancy, but don’t think you can fool me. If you care about them, you’ll leave before you ruin their lives.”
I could not believe my eyes, and I confronted my mom immediately. She tried to defend herself, saying she was protecting me, but I was done.
“You drove her away! Pack your things. You’re leaving tonight,” I yelled, leaving no room for argument. She tried to pacify me, but I wasn’t listening.
She left, but the damage was done.
A man carrying twin babies into a house | Source: Midjourney
In the following weeks, I juggled sleepless nights and frantic searches for Suzie. I reached out to her friends and family, desperate for a clue.
Finally, her friend Sara confessed, “Suzie felt trapped… not by you, but by everything. Your mom told her the twins would be better off without her. Your mom had been so manipulative and controlling.”
The knife twisted deeper. Suzie had been suffering in silence, afraid I wouldn’t believe her.
A man with his head in his hands | Source: Midjourney
Months passed without a word. One day, I received a text from an unknown number. It was a photo of Suzie in the hospital, holding the twins. Beneath it was a message:
“I wish I was the type of mother they deserve. I hope you forgive me.”
“Suzie? Is it you? Oh my God… please come home. Please… please,” I pleaded as I called the number, but it was disconnected. My resolve to find her only strengthened.
A man speaking on his phone | Source: Midjourney
But days passed like leaves on a breeze, and I couldn’t find my wife. Then, a year later, on the twins’ first birthday, there was a knock at the door.
Suzie stood there, clutching a small gift bag, her eyes brimming with tears. She looked healthier, but the sadness lingered. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Suzie?!” I gasped, tears running down my cheeks as I pulled her into my arms. For the first time in a year, I felt whole.
“I’d been such a fool to give in to your mom’s words and run away from my own family. I thought… I thought I wasn’t good enough, like she’d said,” she cried.
“Let’s not talk about her anymore. I’m glad that you’re back… to us,” I said, kissing her forehead as we approached our toddlers.
A man hugging a woman | Source: Midjourney
In the weeks that followed, Suzie opened up. Postpartum depression, my mom’s cruelty, and her own feelings of inadequacy had driven her away. Therapy had helped her find strength, but the scars remained.
“I didn’t want to leave,” she admitted one night, her hand trembling in mine. “But I didn’t know how to stay.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I promised.
And we did. Healing wasn’t easy, but love, resilience, and the shared joy of raising Callie and Jessica brought us back together. Together, we rebuilt what had almost been lost.
A man rocking a baby | Source: Midjourney
Story 2: I Came Home with My Newborn Twins to Find the Locks Changed, My Stuff Thrown Out, and a Note Waiting for Me
The day I was discharged from the hospital with my newborn twin daughters, Ella and Sophie, should have been one of the happiest of my life. Instead, it became an unforgettable nightmare.
My husband Derek was supposed to pick us up, but at the last minute, he called.
An upset mother with her newborn babies | Source: Midjourney
“Mom’s really unwell,” he said hurriedly. “I need to take her to the hospital. I can’t make it to you.”
I was stunned. “Derek, I just gave birth. I need you here.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But this is serious. I’ll come to you as soon as I can.”
An upset woman on a call | Source: Midjourney
Knowing his mother, Lorraine, and Derek’s tendency to prioritize her, I wasn’t convinced he’d return anytime soon. Reluctantly, I arranged a taxi to take me and the girls home.
When we arrived, I froze. My suitcases, diaper bags, and even the crib mattress were dumped on the lawn. Panic crept in as I paid the driver and approached the door, calling, “Derek?”
No answer.
A messy front yard | Source: Midjourney
I tried my key. But it didn’t work. The locks had been changed. My heart raced as I spotted a note taped to a suitcase:
“Get out of here with your little moochers! I know everything. — Derek”
My breath hitched. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. This couldn’t be Derek, the man who had been by my side through every moment of my pregnancy.
A shocked woman reading a note | Source: Midjourney
I called him, but it went straight to voicemail. Again and again, but no answer. Sophie and Ella started crying, their wails matching the panic in my chest. Shaking, I called my mom.
“Derek changed the locks,” I choked out. “He threw me out. There’s a note… Mom, I don’t understand.”
“WHAT?!” she exclaimed. “I’m coming right now.”
When she arrived, she hugged me tightly, her anger barely contained. “This doesn’t make sense. Derek loves you and the girls. Let’s go to my place until we figure this out.”
An upset older woman | Source: Midjourney
At her house, I tried to piece things together. The note didn’t make sense, and Derek’s silence only fueled my anxiety. Unable to sleep, I decided to confront him.
The next morning, I returned to the house. The yard was empty, and all my belongings were gone. I knocked on the door, then peered through the window. The sight froze me: Lorraine was sitting at the dining table, sipping tea.
When I banged on the door, she opened it just a crack, her face smug. “You’re not welcome here, Jenna. Didn’t you see the note?”
“Where’s Derek?” I snapped.
A shocked woman peaking through a window | Source: Midjourney
“He’s at the hospital, taking care of his mother.”
“You’re not sick!” I yelled. “And you’re NOT in the hospital!”
She smirked. “I’m feeling better now. Miracles happen.”
Realization dawned, heavy and suffocating. “You lied to him. You faked being sick to get him out of the house.”
“And?” she replied, unbothered.
“Why? Why would you do this?”
A nonchalant older woman standing by a door | Source: Midjourney
Crossing her arms, her lips curled into a cruel smile. “I told Derek from the start that our family needs a boy to carry on the name. But you? You gave us two girls. Useless.”
Her words knocked the air out of me.
“You threw us out over that?”
“Of course. I even made sure he couldn’t call you by taking his phone. He stayed there overnight, worried, thinking I was truly ill. I bribed a nurse this morning to keep him at the hospital longer to discuss my ‘illness.’ And you know what? It worked perfectly! My naive son believed me when I told him I needed some fresh air and was going for a walk. I just wanted to get back to our beloved home for a hot shower with my favorite bath bombs and some nice chamomile tea! And if you’re planning on exposing me to my son… forget it! Derek loves me too much to believe you, honey!”
A smug older woman | Source: Midjourney
Shaking with rage, I stormed out and drove straight to the hospital, finding Derek pacing in the waiting room.
“Jenna!” he said, relief flooding his face. “I’ve been trying to reach you, but I don’t have my phone.”
“Your mother took it,” I cut him off. “She faked being sick, locked me out of the house, and left that awful note.”
His face darkened with fury. “What?”
“She said it’s because our daughters aren’t boys.”
A man at a hospital | Source: Midjourney
Without another word, Derek grabbed his keys and drove us home. Lorraine’s smug expression faded when we arrived.
“Derek, darling—”
“STOP!” he snapped. “You lied to me, locked my wife and children out of our home, and wrote a fake note to drive them away. What’s wrong with you?”
She sputtered excuses, but he wasn’t having it.
An older woman having tea | Source: Midjourney
“Pack your things and leave. You’re done here.”
Tears streamed down her face. “You can’t mean that. I’m your mother!”
“And Jenna is my wife. Those are my daughters. If you can’t respect them, you’re not welcome in our lives.”
An angry man shouting | Source: Midjourney
“You’ll regret this,” she hissed as she packed her things, slamming doors as she went.
That night, Derek apologized repeatedly. He changed back the locks, blocked Lorraine’s number, and reported the bribed nurse. Over time, we rebuilt our life. Lorraine had tried to destroy us, but she only brought us closer together.
A happy woman with her man | Source: Midjourney
Story 3: My Husband Dumped Me as Soon as He Walked into the Hospital Ward and Saw Our Newborn Twin Daughters
After years of infertility, I thought giving birth to twin daughters would finally bring my husband Mark and me closer. The pregnancy had been grueling, but as I lay in my hospital bed, Ella and Sophie nestled at my sides, all the pain seemed worth it.
I sent Mark a text: They’re here. Two beautiful girls. Can’t wait for you to meet them.
A woman holding her newborn twin girls | Source: Midjourney
I imagined him rushing in, joyful tears streaming down his face. But when the door opened, his expression wasn’t joy. It was stone cold.
“Hey,” I said softly, trying to smile through my exhaustion. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Mark’s eyes landed on the girls, his jaw tightening as disgust flickered across his face. “What the hell is this?” he muttered.
Confused, I frowned. “What do you mean? They’re our daughters!”
“You tricked me!” he snapped, venom lacing his words.
A man standing in a hospital room | Source: Midjourney
My heart sank. “What are you talking about? They’re healthy, Mark. Perfect. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” He laughed bitterly. “You didn’t tell me they were girls! You knew I wanted boys. I thought we were having boys!”
I blinked, stunned. “You’re upset because… they’re girls?”
“Damn right, I’m upset!” He stepped back, his expression like he was staring at strangers. “This whole family was supposed to carry on my name. You’ve ruined EVERYTHING.”
An angry man | Source: Midjourney
My chest tightened as tears welled in my eyes. “Mark, please, they’re our daughters—”
“No,” he cut me off, shaking his head. “You betrayed me. These aren’t even mine.”
The accusation hit like a punch to the gut. I was speechless, my mind racing to comprehend how the man who had been my rock could say something so vile.
Before I could respond, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
A man gesturing angrily | Source: Midjourney
I stared at the door in shock, then down at my girls. Their tiny hands curled against my chest as if they knew I needed comfort. “It’s okay, sweethearts,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure it would be.
Days passed. I moved in with my parents, hoping everything would be alright and that Mark would return, apologizing for a silly misunderstanding. But he vanished without a trace.
Rumors swirled that he was vacationing in a tropical paradise while I grappled with sleepless nights and endless diapers. The betrayal cut deep, but the worst was yet to come when his mother, Sharon, called.
An upset woman with her twin daughters | Source: Midjourney
“You ruined everything,” she hissed in a voicemail. “Mark deserved sons, not… this. How could you betray him like that?”
The messages didn’t stop. Sharon bombarded me with accusations: I had cheated, I was a failure as a wife, and my daughters weren’t good enough for their family.
The nursery became my refuge. Each night, I rocked Ella and Sophie to sleep, whispering, “I’ll keep you safe. We’ll be okay.” But inside, I was breaking.
One sleepless night, as I cradled the girls, a realization hit me: I was waiting for Mark to come back, but he didn’t deserve us. I needed to take action… not for him, but for my daughters.
Close up of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
I hired a lawyer who gave me hope.
“With Mark’s abandonment,” she explained, “you’re in a strong position. Full custody. Child support. We’ll handle visitation on your terms.”
For the first time in weeks, I felt a spark of power.
I began to rebuild. On social media, I shared photos of Ella and Sophie — tiny milestones, giggles, and gummy smiles. Each post was a celebration of our new life, without Mark. Friends rallied around me, and the posts spread through our circle.
Divorce papers | Source: Pexels
Mark didn’t stay away for long. One day, I hosted an open house to introduce my daughters to friends and family. The house buzzed with warmth and laughter, and the twins wore matching outfits with little bows.
Then the door flew open.
Mark stood there, wild-eyed and furious. “What the hell is this?” he barked.
I stood my ground. “It’s our life, Mark. The one you walked out on.”
“You turned everyone against me!” he accused, his voice rising.
“You did that yourself when you abandoned your family because you didn’t get the sons you wanted,” I replied.
“You robbed me of my legacy!” he roared.
A furious man | Source: Midjourney
I stepped closer, meeting his gaze. “You didn’t deserve us, Mark. You made your choice, and this is mine. You’re not welcome here.”
Friends surrounded me, their silent support forcing Mark to retreat. Humiliated, he stormed out.
A few weeks later, Mark received court papers detailing custody and child support. There was no escaping his responsibility, even if he refused to be a father.
As for Sharon, her final message went unread. I was done with their family.
That night, as I rocked my daughters to sleep, I felt a profound peace. Mark’s absence wasn’t a loss. It was freedom. And as I held Ella and Sophie close, I knew our future was brighter without him.
A woman glancing at her phone | Source: Midjourney
Story 4: My Husband Came to Take Me and Our Newborn Triplets Home – When He Saw Them, He Told Me to Leave Them at the Hospital
After years of struggling to have children, the birth of our triplets — Sophie, Lily, and Grace — was a dream come true. As I held my tiny girls in the hospital room, their peaceful faces filled me with overwhelming love.
But when my husband Jack walked in the next day to bring us home, something was wrong. His face was pale and his movements hesitant. He lingered by the door, refusing to come near.
A woman with her triplets | Source: Midjourney
“Jack,” I said softly, trying to ease his nerves, “come look at them. They’re here. These lovely little angels. We did it.”
He shuffled closer, his eyes darting to the bassinets. “Yeah… they’re beautiful,” he muttered, but the words felt hollow.
“What’s going on?” I pressed, my voice trembling.
He took a deep breath and blurted out, “Emily, I don’t think we can keep them.”
A nervous man | Source: Freepik
I stared at him, my heart plummeting. “What are you talking about? They’re OUR daughters!”
Jack looked away, his voice shaky. “My mom went to see a fortune teller. She said… she said these babies will bring bad luck. That they’ll ruin my life… even cause my death.”
I froze, disbelief washing over me. “A fortune teller?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Jack, they’re babies, not bad omens!”
He looked torn but nodded grimly. “My mom swears by her. She’s never been wrong before.”
Anger boiled in my chest. “And because of this, you want to abandon them? You want to leave your own daughters in the hospital?”
A nervous woman in a maternity ward | Source: Midjourney
Jack couldn’t meet my eyes. “If you want to keep them, fine,” he said weakly, “but I won’t be there.”
Tears blurred my vision as his words sunk in. “If you walk out that door, Jack,” I whispered, my voice breaking, “don’t come back.”
He hesitated for a moment, guilt flickering in his eyes. But then he turned and left without another word.
The door closed behind him, and I sat frozen in shock. A nurse entered moments later, her face softening when she saw my tears. She placed a hand on my shoulder as I clutched my daughters closer, whispering, “I’ll always be here for you. I promise.”
An angry woman in maternity ward | Source: Midjourney
Over the following weeks, I adjusted to life as a single mother. Raising triplets alone was overwhelming, but my love for Sophie, Lily, and Grace kept me going. Friends and family helped where they could, but the weight of Jack’s abandonment lingered.
Then one afternoon, Jack’s sister, Beth, visited. She had been one of the few from his family to stand by me. That day, her expression was painful, and I knew she had something to say.
“Emily,” she began hesitantly, “I overheard Mom talking to Aunt Carol. She… she admitted there was no fortune teller.”
I froze. “What are you saying?”
Two nervous women talking | Source: Midjourney
Beth sighed, her face full of regret. “She made it up. She thought that if she convinced Jack the girls would bring bad luck, he’d stay close to her instead of focusing on you and the babies. Moreover, she had wanted grandsons. And she was really disappointed right from the gender reveal party. I guess she’d been planning this for a long time.”
Rage surged through me. “She lied to destroy our family,” I whispered, my hands shaking. “How could she?”
Beth nodded. “I don’t think she realized he’d actually leave, but I thought you should know.”
I didn’t sleep that night. I wanted to confront Jack, but more than that, I needed him to know the truth. The next morning, I called him.
A nervous woman in a chair | Source: Midjourney
“Jack, it’s me,” I said when he answered. “We need to talk.”
He sighed heavily. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Your mother lied,” I said, anger making my voice tremble. “There was no fortune teller. She made it up because she didn’t want to share you with us. She wanted grandsons. She was disappointed right from the gender reveal party.”
Silence stretched on the other end. Finally, he scoffed. “My mom wouldn’t lie about something this big.”
“She admitted it to her sister, Jack. Beth overheard her. Why would I make this up?”
“I’m sorry, Emily,” he said dismissively. “I can’t do this.”
The line went dead.
An angry woman talking on her phone | Source: Midjourney
Weeks turned into months. Each day, I grew stronger, building a life around my daughters. Friends and neighbors pitched in, and slowly, the ache Jack left behind faded. Sophie, Lily, and Grace became my world, their smiles and coos a balm to my soul.
Then one day, Jack’s mother knocked on my door. Her face was pale, her eyes full of regret.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears streaming down her face. “I never thought Jack would leave you. I just… I was scared of losing him.”
I crossed my arms, holding back my anger. “And what about your preference for grandsons over granddaughters? Your fear and selfishness destroyed my family,” I said coldly.
A sad elderly woman | Source: Pexels
She nodded, her face crumpling. “I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything to make it right.”
I shook my head. “There’s nothing you can do. Please leave.”
She walked away, her shoulders slumped.
A year later, Jack showed up on my doorstep, looking gaunt and ashamed. “I made a mistake,” he said, his voice breaking. “I should have believed you. I’m sorry. I want to come back. I want to be a family again.”
But I had already made my choice.
“You left us when we needed you most,” I said firmly. “We’ve built a life without you, and I won’t let you hurt us again.”
I closed the door, my heart steady and strong.
An angry woman in her living room | Source: Midjourney
That night, as I rocked my daughters to sleep, I realized we didn’t need Jack. Our family was whole — just me and my girls.
Newborns symbolize hope and new beginnings, yet these stories reveal how family drama can cast a long shadow. In the face of heartbreak, the resilience of these parents shines, proving love for their children can weather any storm.
A woman holding a baby | Source: Pexels
Minha vizinha instalou um vaso sanitário no meu gramado com um bilhete: “Dê descarga aqui” depois que pedi para ela não tomar sol na frente da janela do meu filho
Quando pedi educadamente à minha vizinha para parar de tomar sol de biquíni na frente da janela do meu filho adolescente, ela retaliou plantando um banheiro imundo no meu gramado com uma placa: “DÊ SUA OPINIÃO AQUI!” Fiquei furioso, mas o carma trouxe a vingança perfeita.
Eu deveria saber que o problema estava se formando quando Shannon se mudou para a casa ao lado e imediatamente pintou sua casa de roxo, depois laranja e depois azul. Mas eu acredito firmemente em viver e deixar viver. Isso foi até ela começar a organizar espetáculos de banho de sol de biquíni bem do lado de fora da janela do meu filho de 15 anos.
Uma mulher deitada em uma espreguiçadeira | Fonte: Pexels
“Mãe!”, meu filho Jake irrompeu na cozinha uma manhã, seu rosto mais vermelho que os tomates que eu estava cortando para o almoço. “Você pode… hum… fazer alguma coisa sobre isso? Do lado de fora da minha janela?”
Marchei até o quarto dele e espiei pela janela. Lá estava Shannon, esparramada em uma espreguiçadeira com estampa de leopardo, usando os biquínis mais minúsculos que poderiam ser generosamente chamados de fio dental com lantejoulas.
“Só mantenha as cortinas fechadas, querida”, eu disse, tentando soar casual enquanto minha mente acelerava.
Uma mulher abrindo cortinas | Fonte: Pexels
“Mas eu não consigo nem abri-los para tomar ar fresco!” Jake caiu na cama.
“Isso é tão estranho. Tommy veio estudar ontem, entrou no meu quarto e simplesmente congelou. Tipo, boca aberta, olhos esbugalhados, desligamento total do sistema. A mãe dele provavelmente não vai deixá-lo voltar!”
Suspirei, fechando as persianas. “Ela estava lá fora assim todos os dias?”
“Todo. Único. Dia. Mãe, estou morrendo. Não posso viver assim. Vou ter que virar uma pessoa-toupeira e morar no porão. Temos Wi-Fi lá embaixo?”
Um adolescente franzindo a testa | Fonte: Midjourney
Depois de uma semana observando meu filho adolescente fazer parkour no quarto para não ver nosso vizinho exibicionista, decidi bater um papo amigável com Shannon.
Geralmente cuido da minha vida quando se trata do que as pessoas fazem em seus quintais, mas a ideia de Shannon de “tomar sol” era mais como uma apresentação pública.
Ela andava por aí com os biquínis mais minúsculos, às vezes até fazendo topless, e não havia como não vê-la toda vez que estávamos perto da janela de Jake.
Uma mulher tomando sol | Fonte: Pexels
“Ei, Shannon”, eu gritei, mirando naquele ponto ideal entre o tom de voz de “vizinha amigável” e “pai preocupado”. “Tem um minuto?”
Ela abaixou seus óculos de sol enormes, aqueles que a faziam parecer um louva-a-deus deslumbrado. “Renee! Veio pegar um óleo de bronzeamento emprestado? Acabei de comprar esse de coco incrível. Faz você cheirar a férias tropicais e escolhas de vida ruins.”
“Na verdade, eu queria falar sobre seu lugar para tomar sol. Veja, é bem na frente da janela do meu filho Jake, e ele tem 15 anos, e—”
“Oh. Meu. Deus.” Shannon sentou-se, seu rosto se abrindo em um sorriso enervantemente largo. “Você está realmente tentando policiar onde eu posso obter minha vitamina D? No meu próprio quintal?”
Uma mulher furiosa | Fonte: Midjourney
“Não é isso que eu—”
“Escuta, querida”, ela me interrompeu, examinando suas unhas rosa-choque como se elas guardassem os segredos do universo. “Se seu filho não consegue lidar com ver uma mulher confiante vivendo sua melhor vida, talvez você devesse investir em persianas melhores. Ou terapia. Ou ambos. Eu conheço uma coach de vida incrível que poderia ajudá-lo a superar sua repressão. Ela é especialista em limpeza de aura e dança interpretativa.”
“Shannon, por favor. Só estou perguntando se você poderia mover sua cadeira literalmente para qualquer outro lugar no seu quintal. Você tem dois acres!”
Uma mulher assustada cobrindo a boca | Fonte: Pexels
“Hmm.” Ela bateu no queixo pensativamente, então pegou o telefone. “Deixe-me verificar minha agenda. Oh, olhe para isso! Estou lotada e não vou me importar com sua opinião até… para sempre.”
Recuei, me perguntando se de alguma forma eu tinha tropeçado em um episódio de “Neighbors Gone Wild”. Mas Shannon ainda não tinha terminado comigo. Nem de longe.
Dois dias depois, abri a porta da frente para pegar o jornal e parei no mesmo instante.
Ali, orgulhosamente exposto no meio do meu gramado perfeitamente cuidado, estava um vaso sanitário. Não qualquer vaso sanitário. Era um trono velho, imundo e indutor de tétano, completo com uma placa escrita à mão que dizia: “DÊ A SUA OPINIÃO AQUI!”
Eu sabia que era obra de Shannon.
Um banheiro com uma placa instalada no gramado | Fonte: Midjourney
“O que você acha da minha instalação de arte?”, sua voz flutuou do seu quintal. Ela estava empoleirada em sua espreguiçadeira, parecendo uma gata muito presunçosa e muito malvestida.
“Eu o chamo de ‘Discurso Suburbano Moderno’. A galeria de arte local já quer apresentá-lo em sua exposição ‘Objetos Encontrados’!” ela riu.
“Você tá brincando comigo?” Fiz um gesto para a monstruosidade de porcelana. “Isso é vandalismo!”
Uma mulher chocada | Fonte: Midjourney
“Não, querida, isso é autoexpressão. Como meu banho de sol. Mas já que você está tão interessada em dar opiniões sobre o que as pessoas fazem em suas propriedades, pensei em lhe dar um lugar apropriado para colocá-las.”
Fiquei ali no meu gramado, olhando para Shannon cacarejando como uma hiena, e algo dentro de mim simplesmente clicou.
Sabe aquele momento em que você percebe que está jogando xadrez com um pombo? O pássaro vai derrubar todas as peças, andar por aí como se tivesse vencido e deixar excrementos por todo lugar. Essa era Shannon.
Cruzei os braços e suspirei. Às vezes, a melhor vingança é simplesmente sentar e assistir o karma fazer seu trabalho.
Uma mulher rindo | Fonte: Midjourney
As semanas que se seguiram testaram minha paciência. Shannon transformou seu quintal no que eu só posso descrever como um Woodstock de uma mulher só. O banho de sol continuou, agora com uma faixa de comentários adicionada.
Ela convidou amigos, e suas festas sacudiam janelas três casas abaixo, com direito a interpretações de karaokê de “I Will Survive” às 3 da manhã. Ela até começou uma “roda de tambores de meditação” que mais parecia uma manada de elefantes com cafeína aprendendo a dançar Riverdance.
Durante tudo isso, eu sorri e acenei. Porque aqui está a coisa sobre pessoas como Shannon — elas estão tão ocupadas escrevendo seu próprio drama que nunca veem a reviravolta na trama chegando.
E, nossa, que reviravolta foi essa.
Pessoas em uma festa | Fonte: Unsplash
Era um sábado agradável. Eu estava assando biscoitos quando ouvi sirenes. Pisei na minha varanda bem a tempo de ver um caminhão de bombeiro frear bruscamente em frente à minha casa.
“Senhora”, um bombeiro se aproximou de mim, parecendo confuso. “Recebemos um relatório sobre um vazamento de esgoto?”
Antes que eu pudesse responder, Shannon apareceu, com uma cara de cidadã preocupada que merecia um Oscar. “Sim, policial! Aquele banheiro ali… é um risco à saúde! Eu já vi coisas… coisas terríveis… vazando! As crianças, alguém não vai pensar nas crianças?”
Um bombeiro segurando um extintor de incêndio | Fonte: Pexels
O bombeiro olhou para o vaso sanitário decorativo completamente seco, depois para Shannon, depois de volta para o vaso sanitário. Sua expressão sugeria que ele estava questionando cada escolha de vida que o levou a esse momento.
“Senhora, fazer relatórios de emergência falsos é crime. Isto é claramente um enfeite de jardim”, ele fez uma pausa, provavelmente se perguntando por que ele tinha que dizer uma frase como aquela como parte de seu trabalho.
“Um enfeite de jardim seco. E eu sou um bombeiro, não um inspetor de saúde.”
Um bombeiro olhando para alguém | Fonte: Pexels
O rosto de Shannon caiu mais rápido do que sua classificação de cobertura de protetor solar. “Mas a poluição estética! A contaminação visual!”
“Senhora, não atendemos emergências estéticas, e brincadeiras definitivamente não são algo a que atendemos.”
Com isso, os bombeiros deixaram a propriedade, mas o karma não havia terminado com Shannon. Nem de longe.
Uma mulher furiosa rangendo os dentes | Fonte: Midjourney
O drama do caminhão de bombeiro mal a desacelerou. Se alguma coisa, a inspirou a atingir novos patamares. Literalmente.
Em uma tarde escaldante, avistei Shannon carregando sua espreguiçadeira de estampa de leopardo por uma escada até o telhado da garagem. E lá estava ela, empoleirada no alto como uma espécie de gárgula tomando sol, armada com uma folha de bronzeamento reflexiva e o que parecia ser uma margarita de tamanho industrial.
Eu estava na cozinha, com os cotovelos afundados nos pratos do jantar, me perguntando se essa era a maneira do universo testar minha pressão arterial quando o som do caos irrompeu lá fora.
Close-up de uma mulher tomando sol | Fonte: Pexels
Ouvi um barulho de água e um grito que parecia um gato em uma máquina de lavar. Corri para fora e encontrei Shannon de bruços em suas premiadas petúnias, coberta da cabeça aos pés de lama.
Acontece que seu novo local para tomar sol no terraço encontrou um igual — seu sistema de irrigação com defeito.
Nossa vizinha, Sra. Peterson, deixou cair sua tesoura de jardinagem. “Meu Deus! Shannon, você está tentando recriar Baywatch? Porque acho que você perdeu a parte da praia. E a parte da corrida. E… bem… todas as partes.”
Shannon se levantou, coberta de lama. Seu biquíni de grife agora estava adornado com manchas de grama e o que parecia ser uma minhoca muito surpresa.
Uma mulher chocada com lama no rosto | Fonte: Midjourney
Após o incidente, Shannon ficou quieta como um rato de igreja. Ela parou de tomar sol na frente da janela de Jake, e o vaso sanitário sujo no meu gramado desapareceu mais rápido que o coelho de um mágico.
Shannon investiu em uma cerca de privacidade ao redor de seu quintal, e nosso longo pesadelo suburbano acabou.
“Mãe”, disse Jake no café da manhã na manhã seguinte, levantando as cortinas com cautela, “é seguro sair da proteção a testemunhas agora?”
Eu sorri, deslizando um prato de panquecas para ele. “É, querido. Acho que o show foi cancelado. Permanentemente.”
Um adolescente sorrindo | Fonte: Midjourney
“Graças a Deus”, ele murmurou, então sorriu. “Embora eu sinta falta do banheiro. Estava estranhamente começando a me acostumar. Como um gnomo de jardim realmente feio.”
“Nem brinque com isso. Coma suas panquecas antes que ela decida instalar um conjunto de banheiro inteiro!”, eu disse, compartilhando uma risada calorosa com meu filho enquanto olhávamos para o muro ao redor do quintal de Shannon.
Vista da janela de um quintal vazio | Fonte: Pexels
Aqui vai outra história : Minha vizinha ficava pendurando a calcinha dela do lado de fora da janela do meu filho de 8 anos. Quando pedi educadamente para ela não fazer isso, ela me dispensou rudemente, me levando a tomar as coisas em minhas próprias mãos.
Este trabalho é inspirado em eventos e pessoas reais, mas foi ficcionalizado para fins criativos. Nomes, personagens e detalhes foram alterados para proteger a privacidade e melhorar a narrativa. Qualquer semelhança com pessoas reais, vivas ou mortas, ou eventos reais é mera coincidência e não intencional do autor.
O autor e a editora não fazem nenhuma reivindicação quanto à precisão dos eventos ou à representação dos personagens e não são responsáveis por nenhuma interpretação errônea. Esta história é fornecida “como está”, e quaisquer opiniões expressas são as dos personagens e não refletem as opiniões do autor ou da editora.
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