Life at the shelter weighed heavily on Stuart. At 13, he had spent most of his years there, growing distant and guarded. Though he was finally given a permanent home, he struggled to accept his adoptive mother.
When Stuart first arrived at the shelter at just five years old, all he had was a worn-out teddy bear, his only comfort in an unfamiliar world. Unlike the other children, he kept to himself, believing loneliness was his fate.
He watched countless kids leave with new families, but no one ever chose him—until Jennifer appeared. She saw the sadness in his eyes and tried to reach out, though Stuart was wary. When he asked if she would just disappear like the others, she promised she was there to stay.
Still doubtful, Stuart questioned why she would want him, calling himself a “sad child.” Jennifer’s heartfelt response sparked a small glimmer of hope, and Stuart finally left the shelter. Yet, despite her constant love, he never fully opened his heart to her.
Over the years, Stuart kept his distance, reminding Jennifer that she wasn’t his real mother. Each rejection broke her heart a little more. Even after Jennifer became gravely ill, Stuart remained cold and detached.
When Jennifer passed away, Stuart stood quietly at her funeral, seemingly untouched by grief. A few days later, her best friend, Carol—now Stuart’s guardian—approached him, urging him to visit Jennifer’s grave.
There, Stuart found a letter from Jennifer. In it, she revealed the heartbreaking truth: years ago, she had left him at the shelter out of desperation, vowing to return once she could care for him. She had loved him even before he was born.
