The Gift of Forgiveness

Hey love, let me tell you about Olivias story, just like Id chat over a cuppa.

Olivia grew up in a comfy family. Her dad was a senior manager, and Mum stayed at home, looking after their only child, ironing Dads suits and whipping up those big, salty pickles that were a family favourite. They lived in a sleepy little town called Ashford. After school, Olivia went off to study in Birmingham. There she met Alex, they fell in love, got married, and life seemed pretty sweet a cosy home, good jobs, everything ticking along.

There was just one thing that nagged them: they had no kids. Theyd seen every specialist, even travelled to the Continent for second opinions, but every doctor kept telling them they were perfectly healthy. When another pregnancy test came back negative, Olivia broke down, tears spilling over. How many more times do I have to wonder why we cant have children? If God wants them, Hell give them. But why does it feel like the universes playing a cruel joke on us?

One Saturday, feeling the weight of it all, Olivia decided to take a walk in the park. The weather was brilliant, birds chattering, everything seemed bright, yet there was this hollow ache inside her. She spotted an elderly lady on a bench, feeding pigeonseed to a flock of doves. The birds swarmed around, cooing loudly. Olivia felt a tug to sit beside her.

The old woman quietly slid a small bag of seeds over, and Olivia started scattering them. Something nudged her to start a conversation, so she opened up about how sad she felt without children. The lady listened without interrupting.

Tell me, Olivia, the lady asked gently, are there any people you think you might have hurt badly and just forgotten about?

Olivia thought for a moment and said, I cant think of anyone.

Are you sure? Maybe back in school? the lady prompted.

Olivias mind flicked back to her school days nothing dramatic, shed been quiet, modest, never really clashed with anyone. Shed lost touch with most of her classmates and had no idea what became of them. Then a sudden pang struck her heart, and she remembered a girl named Molly, whod sat next to her in class.

Molly was being raised by her grandmother; her parents werent reliable. She was shy, kept to herself, and other kids called her the blessed one because she never fought back. She often became the butt of jokes, but she took it all in stride. Occasionally, she’d call Olivia on the home phone and theyd chat for ages about books, films, and homework. Molly only opened up over the phone; in class she never approached Olivia, maybe out of embarrassment. Olivia didnt mind shed rather not be teased for hanging out with the blessed one.

One day, Molly came to school in a cardigan and skirt instead of her uniform. During break the zipper on her skirt broke, and she tried to pin it together with a safety pin. Some boys sneaked up, slipped the pin, and the skirt fell to the floor. Laughter erupted. Olivia stood there, watching, feeling sorry for Molly but too scared to step in shed become the laughingstock if she did.

Molly grabbed her skirt, pulled it up, and bolted out of class. She ran to the river and, in the crisp lateautumn chill, jumped in. The water was icy; she kept swimming until she started to lose consciousness. A passerby pulled her out, wrapped her in his coat and called an ambulance. She ended up in hospital, slipped into a coma for a few days, then woke up with a nasty infection from the cold. Only her grandma visited her. The news of Mollys accident barely rippled through the school, and Olivia, distracted, never thought to visit. Molly never returned to school; rumours said shed suffered a mental breakdown. After that Olivia never heard from her again.

That memory was the only time Olivia felt a pang of shame about how shed acted she hadnt actually hurt Molly, but shed let her down in a way that mattered to her. She turned to the old lady to share this, but the lady had vanished and the pigeons had scattered. Olivia headed home, and an idea sparked: shed drive back to Ashford, the town of her childhood. Her parents had long moved elsewhere, so there were no relatives there.

The next day she asked for a day off work, telling Alex that her parents wanted her to visit her old hometown. She booked a room at a local B&B and set off straight for Mollys old house. Nothing had changed it felt like stepping back into a memory. She knocked and waited a long time before the door opened. An elderly woman answered.

Olivia? What brings you here? the grandma asked.

Hello, I was hoping to see Molly. Is she home?

The girls still here, of course. What do you need?

Could you please call her for me? I need to talk.

Come in, dear, the grandmother said, stepping aside.

Inside, Molly was at a window, sketching. She turned, and Olivia saw a strikingly beautiful woman now, someone whod changed a lot since that river incident.

Molly, hi. Its Olivia White. Do you remember me? Olivia asked.

Of course, Olivia. Whats on your mind? Molly replied.

Olivia poured out her heart about the old lady, the emptiness, and how shed always felt guilty about not standing up for Molly back then. Molly listened, her eyes softening.

Olivia, I waited for you in the hospital, by the river, every single day. I never thought youd remember me. I wasnt angry that you never defended me at school I knew youd be laughed at. But I was in a terrible place in the hospital, feeling alone, and when the doctors said Id never have children, I I wished the same fate on you. It felt like youd abandoned me.

Olivia dropped to her knees, tears spilling.

Molly, Im so sorry. I was ashamed, selfish, only thinking of myself. I never visited you, and now I see why Im paying for that. Please forgive me.

Molly, always gentle, helped Olivia to her feet.

Olivia, I forgive you. I never held it against you, but Im glad we can finally talk. Lets have a cup of tea and catch up.

They shared tea, laughed a little, and Olivia promised to call often. She left feeling light as a feather.

Three months later, Olivia bought another pregnancy test. When she saw the two pink lines, she could hardly believe it she was pregnant! She rang Molly straight away, and Mollys voice burst with joy, relieved that she hadnt caused Olivias infertility after all. Olivia then called Alex and her parents, who all cheered. The pregnancy went smoothly, and she gave birth to a baby girl named Alice. Molly gladly accepted the role of godmother.

So, love, the moral? When were angry we fling harsh words and curses, but those things can circle back like a boomerang. Then were left wondering why everything feels off. Lets try not to wish ill on anyone, and keep peace in our hearts. Talk soon!