02/15/2025
I FOUND A HAND-DRAWN CARD SAYING "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY" IN MY WIFE'S DRAWER — BUT WE NEVER HAD KIDS.
I've been married to Sarah for four years. The topic of kids has always been tough for us. I've always wanted to be a dad, but due to Sarah's childhood illness, it's not safe for her to carry a child. It crushed us both, but I accepted it. I love her too much to risk her life for a baby.
On Sarah's birthday, we kept it simple — dinner, cake, and a cozy night in. The next day, I was looking for some papers in our room when I found something hidden in her drawer: a child's crayon drawing. It said, “Happy Birthday, Mommy," signed, "Love, Erin." The stick-figure mommy even had red hair, like Sarah.
We don't have kids. We CAN'T have kids. So… who's Erin?
At first, I thought maybe it was a niece or something, but then a darker thought hit me. I put the drawing back and acted normal, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. That night, after Sarah fell asleep, I searched her phone.
I found texts with her mom. One read, “I miss my daughter so much, my little Erin… I hate only seeing her twice a year."
Twice a year? My head was spinning. Was Sarah hiding a child from me?
The next morning, over breakfast, I decided to confront her gently. I said, “Hey, let's plan a trip to Disneyland. You've always wanted to go, right?”
She lit up, "That sounds amazing!"
I smiled. "Great. Let's take your daughter Erin with us."
She froze, eyes wide. "What did you just say?" she whispered. ⬇️