After her husband’s death, a 20-year-old woman and her 3-month-old son ended up on the street…

After her husband’s death, 20-year-old Mindy found herself homeless with her three-month-old son. Her mother-in-law blamed her for the misfortune and threw her out into the rain. No one knew that in a secret bank safety deposit box, her husband had left something that would forever change the young mother’s fate.

The spring rain was drumming on the roof when there was a knock at the door. Mindy, gently rocking three-month-old Alex in her arms, who had finally fallen asleep after crying for a long time, cautiously approached the door. On the doorstep stood a drenched police officer, raindrops mixed with sweat streaming down his face.

Mindy Cooper, he asked, checking his notebook. Yes, that’s me, Mindy whispered, feeling her lips go numb with fear. I’m very sorry, but your husband, John Cooper, was in a car accident.

He did not survive. Please accept my condolences. The officer’s words echoed dully in her mind.

Mindy felt the room begin to spin and instinctively held her child tighter so she wouldn’t fall. This, this must be a mistake. John called me two hours ago and said he was returning from a business trip, she stammered, unwilling to believe what she heard.

Unfortunately, there is no mistake. The accident happened around five in the evening. You will need to come to identify the body and collect his personal belongings.

Alex, as if sensing trouble, woke up and started crying. Mindy began to rock him mechanically, not realizing what she was doing. At that moment, her mother-in-law Dolores came out of the room, a stout woman with an always stern look.

What happened? Why is the baby crying again, she asked irritably but froze when she saw the police officer. Is something wrong with John? The officer repeated the terrible news. Dolores let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the floor right in the hallway.

Mindy, as if in a fog, put the half-finished cup of tea she had been holding when she opened the door on the nightstand and crouched down beside her mother-in-law. Dolores, you need to calm down, she said quietly, fully aware that her words were pointless. The next few hours blended into one nightmare for Mindy.

An ambulance arrived, Dolores was given a sedative. Her father-in-law Gregory, a quiet and reserved man, also came. He didn’t cry but seemed to age suddenly with deeper wrinkles appearing on his face.

It can’t be, my boy, he kept repeating, staring into space. No one slept that night. Alex, sensing the tension, cried almost non-stop.

Mindy, barely aware of what was happening, mechanically changed diapers, fed her son, and rocked him. Her consciousness seemed to shut down, protecting her from the reality of what had happened. In the morning, Gregory’s brother came to pick him up so they could go to the morgue together.

Dolores stayed home, the doctors insisted she must not get upset. You stay too, her father-in-law said dryly to Mindy. I’ll take care of the baby.

When the door closed behind him, Mindy felt tears streaming down her cheeks, tears that hadn’t come all night. She sat in the kitchen holding sleeping Alex close and for the first time allowed herself to realize John was gone. Her husband, with whom she had been together since their first year of university.

The one who was so happy about the birth of their son. The one who just yesterday morning had left, hugging both of them before leaving on a one-day business trip. He’s gone.

It’s your fault, came a hoarse voice from the mother-in-law entering the kitchen. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was frozen in hatred. It’s because of you he went.

Mindy looked at her with surprise. Dolores, what are you saying? John went on a work trip. Don’t lie to me, her mother-in-law suddenly shouted, pounding her fist on the table.

Startled, Alex woke up and began to cry. He went because you kept demanding money. For a more expensive stroller, for a mahogany crib.

Nothing was ever enough for you. I… I never asked for that, Mindy began, but Dolores didn’t let her finish. I heard your conversation before he left…