For thirty years, I believed I was adopted, abandoned by parents who couldn’t keep me. But a trip to the orphanage shattered everything I thought I knew.
I was three years old the first time my dad told me I was adopted. We were sitting on the couch, and I had just finished building a tower out of brightly colored blocks. I imagine he smiled at me, but it was the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
A girl playing with building blocks | Source: Pexels
“Sweetheart,” he said, resting his hand on my shoulder. “There’s something you should know.”
I looked up, clutching my favorite stuffed rabbit. “What is it, Daddy?”
“Your real parents couldn’t take care of you,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “So your mom and I stepped in. We adopted you to give you a better life.”
“Real parents?” I asked, tilting my head.
A man playing with his daughter | Source: Pexels
He nodded. “Yes. But they loved you very much, even if they couldn’t keep you.”
I didn’t understand much, but the word “love” made me feel safe. “So you’re my daddy now?”
“That’s right,” he said. Then he hugged me, and I nestled into his chest, feeling like I belonged.
A man hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels
Six months later, my mom died in a car accident. I don’t remember much about her—just a blurry image of her smile, soft and warm, like sunshine on a chilly day. After that, it was just me and my dad.
At first, things weren’t so bad. Dad took care of me. He made peanut butter sandwiches for lunch and let me watch cartoons on Saturday mornings. But as I grew older, things started to change.
A man feeding his daughter | Source: Pexels
When I was six, I couldn’t figure out how to tie my shoes. I cried, frustrated, as I tugged at the laces.
Dad sighed loudly. “Maybe you got that stubbornness from your real parents,” he muttered under his breath.
“Stubborn?” I asked, blinking up at him.
“Just… figure it out,” he said, walking away.
A girl crying | Source: Pexels
He said things like that a lot. Anytime I struggled with school or made a mistake, he’d blame it on my “real parents.”
When I turned six, Dad hosted a barbecue in our backyard. I was excited because all the neighborhood kids were coming. I wanted to show them my new bike.
As the adults stood around talking and laughing, Dad raised his glass and said, “You know, we adopted her. Her real parents couldn’t handle the responsibility.”
A man talking to his family at a barbecue | Source: Midjourney
The laughter faded. I froze, holding my plate of chips.
One of the moms asked, “Oh, really? How sad.”
Dad nodded, taking a sip of his drink. “Yeah, but she’s lucky we took her in.”
The words sank like stones in my chest. The next day at school, the other kids whispered about me.
Two girls whispering | Source: Pexels
“Why didn’t your real parents want you?” one boy sneered.
“Are you gonna get sent back?” a girl giggled.
I ran home crying, hoping Dad would comfort me. But when I told him, he shrugged. “Kids will be kids,” he said. “You’ll get over it.”
A man shrugging | Source: Pexels
On my birthdays, Dad started taking me to visit a local orphanage. He’d park outside the building, point to the kids playing in the yard, and say, “See how lucky you are? They don’t have anyone.”
By the time I was a teenager, I dreaded my birthday.
A sad girl in her room | Source: Pexels
The idea that I wasn’t wanted followed me everywhere. In high school, I kept my head down and worked hard, hoping to prove I was worth keeping. But no matter what I did, I always felt like I wasn’t enough.
When I was 16, I finally asked Dad about my adoption.
A girl talking to her father | Source: Midjourney
“Can I see the papers?” I asked one night as we ate dinner.
He frowned, then left the table. A few minutes later, he came back with a folder. Inside, there was a single page—a certificate with my name, a date, and a seal.
“See? Proof,” he said, tapping the paper.
I stared at it, unsure of what to feel. It looked real enough, but something about it felt… incomplete.
A girl looking at documents in her hands | Source: Midjourney
Still, I didn’t ask any more questions.
Years later, when I met Matt, he saw through my walls right away.
“You don’t talk about your family much,” he said one night as we sat on the couch.
I shrugged. “There’s not much to say.”
A young couple watching TV together | Source: Pexels
But he didn’t let it go. Over time, I told him everything—the adoption, the teasing, the orphanage visits, and how I always felt like I didn’t belong.
“Have you ever thought about looking into your past?” he asked gently.
“No,” I said quickly. “Why would I? My dad already told me everything.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice kind but steady. “What if there’s more to the story? Wouldn’t you want to know?”
A couple having a serious talk | Source: Pexels
I hesitated, my heart pounding. “I don’t know,” I whispered.
“Then let’s find out together,” he said, squeezing my hand.
For the first time, I considered it. What if there was more?
A woman deep in thought | Source: Pexels
The orphanage was smaller than I had imagined. Its brick walls were faded, and the playground equipment out front looked worn but still cared for. My palms were clammy as Matt parked the car.
“You ready?” he asked, turning to me with his steady, reassuring gaze.
“Not really,” I admitted, clutching my bag like a lifeline. “But I guess I have to be.”
A couple talking in a car | Source: Midjourney
We stepped inside, and the air smelled faintly of cleaning supplies and something sweet, like cookies. A woman with short gray hair and kind eyes greeted us from behind a wooden desk.
“Hi, how can I help you?” she asked, her smile warm.
I swallowed hard. “I… I was adopted from here when I was three years old. I’m trying to find more information about my biological parents.”
A woman standing at a desk in an orphanage | Source: Midjourney
“Of course,” she said, her brow furrowing slightly. “What’s your name and the date of your adoption?”
I gave her the details my dad had told me. She nodded and began typing into an old computer. The clacking of the keys seemed to echo in the quiet room.
Minutes passed. Her frown deepened. She tried again, flipping through a thick binder.
A woman looking through documents | Source: Pexels
Finally, she looked up, her expression apologetic. “I’m sorry, but we don’t have any records of you here. Are you sure this is the right orphanage?”
My stomach dropped. “What? But… this is where my dad said I was adopted from. I’ve been told that my whole life.”
Matt leaned forward and peeked into the papers. “Could there be a mistake? Maybe another orphanage in the area?”
A man looking through the documents | Source: Midjourney
She shook her head. “We keep very detailed records. If you were here, we would know. I’m so sorry.”
The room spun as her words sank in. My whole life suddenly felt like a lie.
The car ride home was heavy with silence. I stared out the window, my thoughts racing.
“Are you okay?” Matt asked softly, glancing at me.
A serious woman in a car | Source: Midjourney
“No,” I said, my voice trembling. “I need answers.”
“We’ll get them,” he said firmly. “Let’s talk to your dad. He owes you the truth.”
When we pulled up to my dad’s house, my heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else. The porch light flickered as I knocked.
It took a moment, but the door opened. My dad stood there in his old plaid shirt, his face creased with surprise.
A man in a plaid shirt | Source: Midjourney
“Hey,” he said, his voice cautious. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t bother with pleasantries. “We went to the orphanage,” I blurted out. “They don’t have any record of me. Why would they say that?”
His expression froze. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he sighed heavily and stepped back. “Come in.”
A man talking to his daughter | Source: Midjourney
Matt and I followed him into the living room. He sank into his recliner, running a hand through his thinning hair.
“I knew this day would come,” he said quietly.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded, my voice breaking. “Why did you lie to me?”
An angry woman | Source: Pexels
He looked at the floor, his face shadowed with regret. “You weren’t adopted,” he said, his voice barely audible. “You’re your mother’s child… but not mine. She had an affair.”
The words hit me like a punch. “What?”
A sad middle-aged man | Source: Midjourney
“She cheated on me,” he said, his voice bitter. “When she got pregnant, she begged me to stay. I agreed, but I couldn’t look at you without seeing what she did to me. So I made up the adoption story.”
My hands trembled. “You lied to me for my entire life? Why would you do that?”
A confused shocked woman | Source: Pexels
“I don’t know,” he said, his shoulders slumping. “I was angry. Hurt. I thought… maybe if you believed you weren’t mine, it would be easier for me to handle. Maybe I wouldn’t hate her so much. It was stupid. I’m sorry.”
I blinked back tears, my voice shaking with disbelief. “You faked the papers?”
He nodded slowly. “I had a friend who worked in records. He owed me a favor. It wasn’t hard to make it look real.”
A sad man looking at his hands | Source: Midjourney
I couldn’t breathe. The teasing, the orphanage visits, the comments about my “real parents” wasn’t about me at all. It was his way of dealing with his pain.
“I was just a kid,” I whispered. “I didn’t deserve this.”
“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I know I failed you.”
A sad woman sitting in her kitchen | Source: Midjourney
I stood up, my legs shaky. “I can’t do this right now. Be sure that I will take care of you when the time comes. But I can’t stay,” I said, turning to Matt. “Let’s go.”
Matt nodded, his jaw tight as he glared at my father. “You’re coming with me,” he said softly.
As we walked out the door, my dad called after me. “I’m sorry! I really am!”
But I didn’t turn around.
A sad grieving woman | Source: Pexels
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided as “is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Julia Roberts Shares Rare Photo of Son Henry on His ‘Beautiful’ 17th Birthday
Henry, Julia Roberts’ “beautiful” son, turns 17 today: a rare look at her youngest Julia Roberts celebrated her youngest son’s 17th birthday on Instagram with a beautiful picture. Despite the unexpected image—Julia is typically known to be reticent about her children—she and her spouse have previously revealed incredible photos of Henry Moder that have left people in awe.ư
Date: June 29, 2024 Writer: James William None to say Henry, Julia Roberts’ “beautiful” son, turns 17 today: a rare look at her youngest Julia Roberts celebrated her youngest son’s 17th birthday on Instagram with a beautiful picture. Despite the unexpected image—Julia is typically known to be reticent about her children—she and her spouse have previously revealed incredible photos of Henry Moder that have left people in awe. A very happy birthday to the kid of Hollywood’s most renowned couple, Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder! Henry Moder, the youngest member of their family, turned seventeen on June 18. A flurry of encouraging remarks have been left on social media by his loving mother, who celebrated the joyous occasion with a number of beautiful mother-son messages. In the photo, the “Pretty Woman” actress is seen looking down at Henry, who is still a newborn. Her eyes are shining with delight and affection. The curious and charming baby seems absorbed in something outside of the frame, cradled in his mother’s protective arms.
Julia expressed both her pride and her shock in a succinct yet beautiful caption she penned for the picture. It’s incredible how this little child has developed into a fantastic 17-year-old! She wrote, “Happy Birthday, Henry! You are beautiful.” Although Julia and Henry’s father, Daniel, respect their children’s privacy, on occasion the pair provides exclusive photos and videos of their children. Daniel in particular has been entertaining fans on social media with videos of Henry, Hazel, and Phinnaeus Moder enjoying a good time, showcasing precious family moments.
Daniel posted a video on Instagram of Henry showing off his skating skills at a skate park. In the slow-motion video, the child can be seen riding his skateboard up an incline while wearing dark pants and an olive-colored t-shirt.Henry succeeds in turning the board around at the top of the ramp, putting his gorgeous face in the frame of the camera. Then, when the camera pans closer, his attractive eyes and face are shown in close-up.Daniel shared the incredible footage on June 18, 2021, in observance of Henry’s 14th birthday. The springs twist and swirl, swaying fourteen times in the air. Ya Henry,” the proud father captioned the photo.
In the post’s comment area, followers of the now-17-year-old were applauding and thanking him in addition to sharing their thoughts on which parent Henry most resembled. “He looks just like you. Nice child, said one of his supporters.In agreement, a second person remarked, “Looks precisely like his Dad!lovely offspring While acknowledging the father-son likeness, the other individual also highlighted Henry’s mother, remarking, “Has mom’s hair.” There is no denying that child. Hehe.On the other hand, a commenter on Instagram said, “This family obviously has no Roberts genes at all!” Once more, after Henry’s father-lookalike shared an earlier picture of his child on social media, people swarmed to the comments area.
Henry is seen in the 2018 picture posing casually stylish in a lighthouse. The boy on skates looked down at the camera, his long hair falling in a carefree way to frame his face.”Look closely to see the star spangled shorts,” Daniel captioned the surreal picture. One cool young person…Happy Fourth of July from a lighthouse near the Cape. Beneath the picture, an admirer remarked, “Handsome Henry,” and another, “Julia’s eyes.”Whether or not Henry and his siblings look alike, Julia is still incredibly in love with them. She has often boasted about them and places her responsibilities as a mother above all else.
During an interview promoting her latest movie, “Ticket to Paradise,” Julia was asked how she defined herself as a homemaker by the interviewer. “When I’m not working, that’s my full-time job,” stated the mother of three. Though it’s not all sunshine and kittens, I am really delighted about it.
She also discussed her unique bond with Henry, whom she refers to as her breakfast partner as they both benefit much from that most important meal of the day. I love breakfast, thus it’s my favorite meal. My morning buddy is my younger son Henry,” Julia remarked.The interviewer was so aware of the “Notting Hill” actress’s love of breakfast that they made a joke about how the interview would keep her from eating with Henry Moder. Yes, in fact! We love eating breakfast! With a smile, Julia Roberts concurred.
Julia loves her twins Phinnaeus and Hazel in addition to Henry. As her lone daughter joined her father, a cinematographer, at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival to promote his film “Flag Day,” Julia spoke affectionately about Hazel. The audience was captivated by the father-daughter exchange and shocked by how much Daniel looked like her.Hazel, then sixteen, wore a stylish yet laid-back outfit for the well-known event. She wore black Mary Janes with big heels and a yellow button-down dress with floral lace embroidery. Her fair hair was likewise tied back into a ponytail by her. On the other hand, her father looked dapper in a black suit.Hazel’s parents, especially her mother, expressed her happiness with her behavior, praising her for her excellent behavior. Recalling the exceptional event, Julia praised her daughter and made fun of their arguments on her appearance and her self-assured refusal to apply eyeliner, remarking, “That girl is unique.”The innocence really is so lovely.
When fans saw pictures of the young lady on her father’s arm, they complimented Hazel’s looks and labeled her pretty, but they also made note of the physical differences between Julia and Hazel. “She’s lovely but you’d never guess who her mom is…they really are not alike at all,” a supporter commented.
Another person said something like, “She doesn’t look anything like her Mum.” While some people stated that Hazel resembles her father more than Julia, others pointed out that the two are not the same. Even while many people thought Hazel and Julia didn’t look identical, many still complimented the 19-year-old on her good looks.
Leave a Reply