Broken Dreams and a Miracle of Hope: The Story of Emily
“James, darling, you and Emily have been together for three years, and still no children,” grumbled James’s mother over the phone. “Your father and I aren’t getting any younger—we want grandchildren. Your wife should get checked—maybe she needs treatment.”
“Mum, I’ve been thinking the same,” James replied. “Emily says these things take time.”
“I know a nurse at a top clinic in London,” his mother insisted. “I’ll call her and arrange an exam. There’s no hiding anything—I’ll see all the results myself.”
And so it was settled. Without knowing it, Emily was under scrutiny. She accidentally overheard James talking to his mother while hiding in the bedroom. Her heart seized with dread: “Is this really happening?” She had dreamed of holding a baby in her arms, singing lullabies. But her mother-in-law’s words shattered those dreams like glass.
That evening, Emily sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the TV. Her favourite show felt foreign and distant. The jingle of keys made her flinch. James walked in, dropped his bag, and sat beside her. His face was tense, his eyes avoiding hers. “Emily, listen—I’m a normal man,” he began, each word striking like a hammer. “I need an heir. But with you… it’s not happening. Here, look.”
He handed her a folder. Inside were medical reports stating plainly: no chance of pregnancy. Tears welled up instantly. “I want a divorce,” James said quietly but firmly.
Emily gasped at the pain. The man she loved was casting her aside as if their three years meant nothing. “He doesn’t want me like this,” she thought, packing her things. She moved back to her father’s old flat on the outskirts of Manchester. Her mother had passed five years ago, and her father lived alone, often out with his mates. “Tough luck, love,” he sighed, shaking his head. “Who’d want you now?”
His words cut deep, but Emily knew he wasn’t wrong. “This must be my fate,” she decided, forcing herself forward. She took a job as an office administrator, burying herself in routine to numb the pain.
One day at a café, she bumped into an old classmate, Thomas. They chatted, reminiscing about school. “Emily, I’ve always fancied you,” he admitted suddenly. “Still do. You’re free, so am I. Fancy giving us a go?”
Emily hesitated. “Tom, I like you too,” she confessed. “But James left me because I can’t have children. You deserve someone who can give you a family.”
“See another doctor,” Thomas urged. “What if they got it wrong?”
“Maybe you’re right,” Emily sighed. “I gave up too soon.”
“Let’s try, yeah?” he said gently. “Whatever the doctors say, I want you.”
Relieved by his honesty, Emily agreed. A new examination confirmed the worst: no children. She told Thomas right away. “Alright then,” he said calmly. “Adoption’s always an option.”
A month later, Emily moved in with Thomas. They married, and with him, she felt safe. They discussed adoption, dreaming of a son. But one night, Emily woke in tears. She’d dreamed of her mother, smiling and saying, “Sweetheart, you’ll have children. Go to church, pray—it’ll happen.” The dream felt so real Emily couldn’t shake it. She rarely remembered her mum, and this vision stirred her soul. “Shame it’s just a dream,” she thought, aching for her mother’s comfort.
She dismissed prophetic dreams as nonsense, yet the longing stayed. Months later, colleagues mentioned visiting a cathedral where relics of a saint were displayed. “Coming with us?” they asked. Remembering the dream, Emily shrugged. “Worth a shot. Can’t hurt.”
The cathedral was packed, the queue long. When her turn came, Emily touched the relics and whispered, “Lord, You didn’t give me children, though I dreamed of them. They say it’s impossible. Please, help me.” A weight lifted from her heart.
Two months later, Emily discovered she was pregnant. Disbelieving, she saw a doctor—who confirmed the miracle. Tears of joy streamed down her face. “I’m going to be a mum!” she gasped, overwhelmed. Her mother’s dream had been a prophecy.
A healthy boy was born. Two years later, another son arrived. Life with two was hectic, but Emily glowed with happiness. Eventually, she and Thomas had five sons. “If God gives them, we’ll have them,” they agreed. Emily, whose dream of motherhood once seemed hopeless, thanked fate for her boys. The Lord had heard her prayers, gifting the family she’d longed for.