Martha’s joy at her son’s wedding turns to shock when she notices a familiar birthmark on the bride. The discovery unveils a deep secret from Martha’s past and forces her to make a heart-wrenching decision.
Martha stood with Emily in the hotel room, watching the young girl dress up for the wedding.
“I’m just so nervous, Martha,” Emily confessed, looking into the mirror. “What if something goes wrong?”
Martha approached her soon-to-be daughter-in-law and placed her hands on her shoulder. “You and Alex are a wonderful couple,” she said. “Everything will be perfect. You wait and see.”
Emily nodded and looked at the bridal bouquet. “You know, lilies are my favorite flowers,” she said.
Martha revealed they were her favorite flowers, too. She only started loving them after her husband, George, began gifting her lilies on their dates.
While chatting, Emily slipped into her wedding dress, a stunning creation of lace and silk that hugged her figure gracefully. Martha stood there, watching her.
“Could you help me with the zipper?” Emily asked, turning her back to Martha, revealing the long, delicate dress zipper.
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“Of course, dear,” Martha responded, her experienced hands skillfully drawing the zipper upwards. But as she did so, her gaze fell upon a small, distinct birthmark on Emily’s shoulder. It was shaped like a crescent moon, a mark Martha knew all too well.
“Is everything okay?” Emily asked, her voice filled with concern. She noticed the sudden change in Martha’s expression.
Martha stood still, her mind racing. Words failed her. The birthmark on Emily’s shoulder – it was too familiar, too significant. She couldn’t believe what her eyes had just seen.
“I think I just need some fresh air,” Martha said tremblingly.
“Of course, take your time. The hotel’s backyard is peaceful. It might help you relax.”
Martha stepped into the courtyard, and the cool morning breeze greeted her. She walked aimlessly, her feet leading her to a secluded bench. She sat down, her gaze lost in the distance. And then, memories, buried deep for 25 years, came flooding back…
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25 years ago…
A young Martha stood alone on a weathered dock, the sea stretching vast before her. Then George, her fiancé, approached her. He was tall and rugged, and his kind smile warmed her heart.
Walking hand-in-hand towards the ship, a feeling of dread filled Martha. Their impending goodbye loomed large — a three-month sea voyage awaited him. She knew the days without George’s laughter and touch would be unbearable.
Reaching the large vessel, she looked up, feeling small and vulnerable. Her eyes, filled with unspoken fears, met George’s.
“I don’t want you to go. How will I live without you?” she choked out, searching his eyes for reassurance.
George held her close. “I know, Martha. I’ll miss you too. But it’s just three months. Then we’ll start our family.”
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Tears welled in Martha’s eyes. “These three months will be the longest of my life,” she whispered, clinging to him.
George kissed her tenderly. “They’ll pass before you know it,” he assured her.
The captain’s call for boarding signaled the dreaded moment. Reluctantly, George stepped back, stroking her hair. “Time will fly,” he repeated, trying to sound confident.
Martha’s heart ached as the captain’s voice echoed again. She kissed George one last time.
When he turned to leave, Martha’s eyes followed, clinging to his retreating figure. He walked towards the ship, his shoulders squared. Seeing him walk away sent a sharp pang through her heart.
With billowing sails, the large vessel moved away from the dock. Martha watched, her eyes fixed on the ship as it slowly sailed from the shore.
George waved from the ship, his figure growing smaller. Martha raised her hand in response, tears blurring her vision.
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The distance between them grew, until the ship became a mere speck on the vast sea. Slowly, Martha turned to leave the dock, her mind replaying the last moments with George — their final embrace, their last kiss.
Soon, three months passed since George left. Martha missed him every single day. One day, her phone rang.
“Hi, my love,” George said, his voice serious. “We need to talk.”
Hope flared in Martha’s chest. “Darling, is that you? When should I expect you?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk about,” George said. “The captain offered me nine more months at sea. Good opportunity, good money. We can buy a house when I return.”
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Disbelief washed over Martha. “You agreed without asking me? I’ve been waiting for you for three months!”
“It’s a good opportunity,” George insisted.
“What about us?” Martha cried. “Our plans, our future?”
George’s voice grew louder. “You don’t understand. It’s my future, my life!”
Martha hung up in anger. Tears streamed down her face. She looked at her engagement ring, a symbol of their love, now a heavy burden. She took it off and threw it on the table.
Unable to bear the loneliness, she called her friends, Kate and Liza. They arrived quickly and comforted her. As the night wore on, Kate suggested going dancing to distract Martha. Martha didn’t want to, but reluctantly, she agreed.
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Martha stood alone in the crowded dance hall, her friends lost in the music and their joy. A young man named James approached her, asking why she looked so sad.
“I’m not in the mood for talking,” Martha said, barely audible over the music.
James offered her a flask. While Martha didn’t drink alcohol, she made an exception that night. After a few sips, she felt a sense of warmth and ease.
“Rough day?” James then asked, noticing her sadness.
“Understatement,” Martha replied.
“How about we get out of here?” James suggested.
“I can’t leave my friends. I’m here with them,” she said, pointing at them.
“They’re having fun; they won’t even notice. Shall we?”
Martha hesitated, but then agreed. They walked around the city, chatting, and James’s presence offered a comforting escape. It wasn’t long before they were on a rooftop, looking at the stars. James spoke about the constellations, his voice a soft murmur.
Suddenly, he leaned in and kissed Martha. She was startled but responded to his kiss. They spent the night together, lost in the moment.
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When dawn broke, Martha woke up with a sense of guilt and regret. She gathered her things and left, leaving James asleep.
Walking home, Martha realized the mistake she had made. She arrived home to see her ring on the table. She picked it up, the metal cold against her skin, and slid it back on her finger.
Martha knew she had to move forward, but her world came crashing down around her when she started feeling sick days later.
Nausea and exhaustion plagued her. Worried, she visited a doctor, who suggested an ultrasound. Martha would’ve never expected the test results would shatter her world. She was pregnant.
“Can I have an abortion?” she asked the doctor, only to be met with disappointment. Her health complications would never allow it.
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Martha returned home with a heavy heart and sat by the phone, debating whether to call George. He called first.
“I shouldn’t have left without talking to you,” he said while she listened. “Let’s get married when I return,” he proposed.
Martha stayed silent, tears welling up.
“Are you crying?” George asked.
“They are tears of happiness,” Martha lied.
Present-day…
As Martha sat lost in thought, a touch on her shoulder distracted her. She looked up to see her son, Alex.
“Mom, the ceremony is about to start. We need to take our places,” he said.
Martha forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil inside her. “I’ll be there soon, Alex. Go ahead, I just need a moment,” she said.
Alex left, and Martha was back to her past. The day she gave birth. She’d welcomed a beautiful baby girl.
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“Can I hold her, just for a moment, before you take her away?” she had pleaded with the nurse.
The nurse placed the baby in her arms. A crescent moon birthmark adorned the baby’s shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, my little girl,” Martha whispered to the child. “I had no choice.”
Martha abandoned her baby girl. She felt terrible, but there was nothing she could do. When George returned, she couldn’t tell him the truth. As they hugged each other at the dock, her tears followed freely.
“I missed you so much. Let’s get married immediately,” he urged.
“We will,” Martha promised, but only she knew how her heart was crushed.
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As Martha sat in the church, watching Alex and Emily, her gut churned with uneasiness. Suddenly, the priest’s words pierced the silence: “If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace…”
Martha stood up, her voice trembling but loud: “I object to this wedding!”
Silence fell over the crowd. Alex stared at her, confused. “Mom, what are you doing?”
Tears streamed down Martha’s face. “Because…you are brother and sister. You can’t marry Emily!”
Alex paled as Martha went on. “Many years ago, I had a baby girl and gave her up for adoption. She had a crescent moon birthmark — the same as Emily’s.”
Emily’s hand flew to her shoulder, her face draining of color.
Tears streaming down her face, Martha continued, “I never imagined she could be the one you would fall in love with.”
The guests gasped, the news spreading through the church like wildfire. The ceremony ended abruptly, leaving everyone in shock and confusion.
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With the guests gone, Martha, along with Emily, Alex, and George, gathered in the hotel room.
“How could you keep this secret?” Alex, her son, raged. “I loved my sister, almost married her!”
Tears streamed down Martha’s face. “I thought it was the best for everyone,” she whispered.
“No, you thought about what was best for you! You destroyed our lives!” Alex cried. “When would you have told us? When we had kids?”
“I didn’t know until this morning. Not until I saw the birthmark on Emily’s shoulder,” Martha replied quietly. Then she looked at Emily. She approached her daughter and held her hands, begging for forgiveness.
But Emily pulled her hand away. “I have my adoptive parents, and I love them. But this?” she said, swallowing thickly. “I don’t know if I can forgive you. To find out that the love of my life is my brother…It’s just too much.”
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Tears welled in George’s eyes. “I’m filing for divorce,” he said, his voice thick with pain, and left the room, leaving Martha and her children alone.
“Mom, please leave,” Alex whispered, his face etched with sorrow.
Martha, her heart heavy with regret, left the room, the weight of her past crushing her.
She regretted what she had done, but it was too late.
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