Ben sat in his luxurious office, his leather chair tilting slightly as he leaned back, staring at the screen in front of him. His hands hovered over his keyboard, unable to move as he took in the numbers. His company’s revenue had grown by tens of millions. He had done it. He had finally made it.
A slow smile spread across his face. Years of hard work, of sleepless nights, of sacrifices—everything was finally paying off. His heart pounded with excitement as he reached for his phone to call his assistant, Jane. But before he could dial, the door burst open.
Jane stood there, her usual confident demeanor replaced by something anxious, almost hesitant.
“Ah, Jane! Perfect timing! The numbers are in. We’re celebrating! Get a few bottles of champagne and gather everyone in the canteen. They deserve a toast,” Ben said, his voice filled with joy.
Jane bit her lip. “Sir… I will do that, but… there’s something you need to know first.”
Ben lowered his phone, narrowing his eyes. “But what?”
Jane took a deep breath. “Sir, your mother… she was seen under a bridge not too far from here. One of the security guards recognized her. She’s in bad shape.”
Ben froze. His grip tightened on the phone as his heart thudded in his chest. “What?”
“She’s been living there for a while now,” Jane continued softly. “She’s homeless.”
Silence filled the office. Ben inhaled sharply, his body rigid. He hadn’t seen his mother in years, not since the day she had thrown him out of her house.
Finally, he spoke, his voice tight. “Thanks, Jane. Forget the toast for me, but make sure everyone else enjoys the celebration. Get them all a gift bag as well. And… get something nice for yourself, too. You deserve it.”
Jane nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
As she left, Ben exhaled deeply, leaning back in his chair. His eyes burned as memories from his past flooded his mind.
Ben had grown up in a cramped, rundown apartment with his mother, Ellen, and his older brother, Simon. Their father had left when Ben was just a baby, and Ellen had struggled to raise them alone. But while Simon was showered with attention and gifts, Ben was an afterthought.
He had spent his childhood in hand-me-downs, his mother’s affection always reserved for Simon. No birthday presents, no new clothes, no warm hugs. Just neglect.
One day, as a teenager, Ben had worked up the courage to ask for something for himself.
“Mom, do you think I could get this outfit? It’s on sale,” he said, holding out a store pamphlet.
Ellen didn’t even glance at it. She scoffed, barely looking up from her phone. “Get that out of my face. Do you think money grows on trees? If you want new clothes, go earn some money yourself.”
Ben swallowed the lump in his throat. The words stung, but they also lit a fire in him. Fine. If his mother wouldn’t provide for him, he’d do it himself. He started job hunting that very day.
A week later, he found a job as a lifeguard. He couldn’t wait to tell his mother. But when he rushed home to share the news, the apartment was filled with thick smoke. He sprinted to the kitchen, coughing as he pulled a burning pot off the stove just before the fire could spread.
“Mom!” he shouted, running toward her bedroom.
Ellen emerged groggily, rubbing her eyes. Behind her, Ben noticed a pair of unfamiliar men’s shoes near her bed.
“What’s with all the yelling?” she muttered.
“You left a pot burning! I just stopped the apartment from catching fire!”
She glanced at the smoke-filled room with mild disinterest. “Oh. Must’ve forgotten. Help me open the windows.”
As they aired out the apartment, Ben tried again. “Mom, I got a job. I’m a lifeguard now.”
Ellen barely reacted. “How much does it pay?”
“Not much… but it’s a start.”
She scoffed. “Money, Ben. We need money. Now go cook dinner. I’m tired.”
And with that, she disappeared back into her bedroom, the door clicking shut behind her.
Ben had worked tirelessly, but every dollar he earned ended up in Ellen’s hands. It didn’t matter how much he contributed, she never acknowledged his efforts. And then, on his eighteenth birthday, she dropped the final blow.
“Ben, this living situation isn’t working anymore. You’re grown now. Your brother moved out. It’s time you do the same.”
Ben had just stared at her, disbelief washing over him. She was kicking him out.
“You understand, right?” she asked, as if she were doing him a favor.
He didn’t answer. He simply nodded, packed his things, and walked out the door, never looking back.
Years passed. Ben built his own life. He worked hard, never depending on anyone, and with the help of Brian—a wealthy businessman whose daughter he had once saved—he climbed his way up. Eventually, he married Brian’s daughter, Angie, and took over the family company. He had everything he had ever wanted.
Until now.
Ben found himself standing under the bridge later that night, staring at the frail woman before him. Ellen was a shadow of the woman he once knew. Her clothes were tattered, her hair unkempt, her hands shaking as she held a tin cup, begging for coins.
His chest tightened. Despite everything she had done, the sight of her like this shattered him.
“Mom?” he whispered.
Ellen looked up, her tired eyes widening in shock. “Oh… my son,” she croaked, a weak cough escaping her lips.
Ben knelt beside her, draping his suit jacket over her frail shoulders. “What happened?”
Tears filled her eyes as she told him the truth. Simon had fallen ill, and without insurance, she had sold everything to pay for his treatment. When the money ran out, she had nowhere to go. She had lost everything.
“I know I was a terrible mother,” Ellen sobbed. “I don’t deserve anything from you, but please… help your brother. He doesn’t deserve this.”
Ben’s heart ached. He had spent years convincing himself that he didn’t care, that she didn’t matter. But now, seeing her like this, he realized something—he still wanted his mother’s love.
His fingers tightened around a piece of paper that had fallen from his jacket. A note from his wife. He unfolded it, reading the words that made his breath catch in his throat.
“You’re going to be a father.”
His eyes filled with tears. Ellen noticed his expression. “Ben, what’s wrong?”
He swallowed hard. “You’re going to be a grandmother.”
Ellen gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh, my boy! That’s wonderful news!” she cried, wrapping her arms around him. For the first time in years, Ben let her.
That night, he checked her into a hotel, got his brother the best medical care, and began the slow process of rebuilding the broken bridges between them.
Forgiveness wouldn’t come easily. The wounds ran deep. But as he looked at his mother, frail but hopeful, he knew he had broken the cycle. He had chosen kindness where she had chosen neglect.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough to start again.
