Woman Adopts Non-English Speaking Girl, Is Shocked to Uncover the Truth When She Learns to Communicate

When Annie learned she couldn’t have a baby, her world seemed to crumble. Sitting in Dr. Martinez’s office, surrounded by images of happy families, she had been ready to hear good news about the fertilization process. Instead, Dr. Martinez sighed and gave her the heartbreaking truth: “The tests show that you can’t have children. I’m so sorry.”

Devastated, Annie nodded quietly. The idea of IVF had been an option, but the risks and low success rates were too much to bear. Dr. Martinez suggested adoption instead, handing Annie a booklet filled with profiles of children needing homes.

Back at home, Annie sat at her kitchen table, flipping through the adoption booklet. One photo caught her eye—a baby’s innocent, smiling face. Her heart ached as she picked up the phone to contact the adoption agency. Days later, Annie found herself sitting in the office of Caitlin, the social worker who would guide her through the process.

“Adoption can be challenging, especially at the start,” Caitlin warned. “Are you ready to devote yourself fully to this child?”

Annie nodded, her resolve unwavering. “Yes. I’m ready for whatever it takes.”

A few days later, Annie received a call from Caitlin. “We’ve found a child for you. Her name is Abiona, a six-year-old girl from Congo. She doesn’t speak English yet, but we believe she’d be a good match for you. Would you like to meet her?”

Annie hesitated. “Six years old? And no English?” She had imagined starting motherhood with a baby, not an older child. “I’ll need to think about this.”

“Take all the time you need,” Caitlin replied, though Annie sensed a sigh on the other end.

After spending the day considering her options, Annie made her decision. She called Caitlin the next morning. “Yes, I want to meet her.”

Arriving at the foster home where Abiona was staying, Annie felt her heart race. The foster mother greeted her with little warmth and led her inside a chaotic home filled with noise and disorder. In a corner, Abiona sat quietly, drawing, her eyes briefly meeting Annie’s before returning to her artwork.

“She doesn’t talk to anyone,” the foster mother commented dismissively, as if Annie’s visit was a waste of time.

Annie ignored the remark, kneeling next to Abiona. “Did you draw this?” she asked gently. Abiona nodded, but remained silent. Annie sat beside her and began drawing too, hoping to connect in a way words couldn’t. She drew a picture of a house and two stick figures. “This is my house,” she said softly. “Would you like to live there with me?”

Abiona paused, then drew a smaller stick figure next to Annie’s. That small gesture made Annie’s heart swell with hope.

When Annie brought Abiona home, the little girl explored her new surroundings quietly, her eyes widening at the sight of paints and brushes. Without a word, she sat down and began to create. It was clear that drawing was her way of communicating, and Annie embraced it.

Over the next few months, Annie found creative ways to teach Abiona English through their drawing sessions. Slowly but surely, Abiona picked up words and phrases, growing more comfortable in her new home.

One afternoon, as they sat together with a picture book about families, Annie pointed to a drawing. “This is a family,” she said, touching the images of a mother and child. “Mom,” she pointed to herself, “and daughter,” pointing to Abiona.

To her surprise, Abiona’s eyes welled up with tears. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Annie asked, gently stroking her hair.

In broken English, Abiona shared a secret that sent shockwaves through Annie. “I have Mom and Dad,” she said, pointing to one of her drawings. Abiona explained that bad men had taken her from her parents, but she remembered her mother’s scent—like honey—and the handmade toy her mother had given her before they were separated.

Annie was stunned. How could no one have told her about Abiona’s family? She comforted the little girl, hugging her tightly as she cried. From that moment, their bond grew even stronger.

But tragedy struck a few months later when Abiona fell ill, struggling to breathe one night. Annie rushed her to the hospital, panicked. After several tests, a doctor delivered devastating news. Abiona had a genetic disease—one that was terminal. She only had days left.

Annie’s heart shattered. She had only just begun her life as Abiona’s mother, and now she was about to lose her.

When Abiona woke, her voice was weak but clear. “I want to see my mom,” she whispered.

Determined to grant Abiona’s final wish, Annie set out to find her biological mother. She went to the police, who agreed to test the handmade toy Abiona had kept for DNA. Miraculously, they found a match and provided Annie with her mother’s contact information.

Annie drove to the address, her heart racing. When a woman opened the door, Annie introduced herself. “Tendey? I’m here about Abiona. She’s in the hospital. She’s dying and wants to see you.”

But Tendey’s reaction wasn’t what Annie expected. Coldly, she replied, “I gave her away. I don’t want to see her.”

Desperate, Annie pleaded, but Tendey refused to come. In a last-ditch effort, Annie asked, “Do you sell honey-scented perfume?”

Confused, Tendey nodded. Annie bought a bottle, and an idea began to form.

Back at the hospital, Annie hired an actress who resembled Tendey. Doused in honey-scented perfume, the actress gently approached Abiona’s bedside.

“Your mom is here,” Annie whispered, her heart breaking.

Abiona’s face lit up. “You smell like my mom,” she said, reaching out for a hug.

The actress hugged her, whispering, “It’s because I am your mom.”

Abiona turned to Annie and whispered, “Thank you,” before drifting back to sleep. Annie stayed by her side, holding her hand until, in the quiet of the night, Abiona took her final breath.

Through tears, Annie whispered, “You were loved. So loved. And I will love you forever.”

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