Two days until her birthday. 48 hours left before April would disappear. Anyone facing such a dilemma would be sorrowful or depressed about their departure but for April it was fear about what would happen after.

She lived to see 60 when all she ever wanted was to never be born. Hearing your mother call you a mistake for the first 30 years of your life could kill your desire to live and for April that had been the case.

She almost decided to end her life but that was before Hope, her daughter. To April, Hope was everything. She lived her life through Hope and given the chance she would do it all over again even if it means her life would end at 60.

"Mom, what do you think about June Wedding?"her daughter asked breaking the silence in the house. June would be two months too late. April would have loved seeing her daughter has a bride but she was content with the knowledge that she met a wonderful man.

"It is perfect Hope. And I want a favor from you. For your wedding, could you ask Anna to walk you down the aisle. I don't want her to feel left out" April spoke up and watched her daughter joyous expression turn contemplative.

"Mom, I really do love Aunt Anna but she is not my mom just because she gave birth to me. You were the one I wanted to share everything with for my wedding. Please don't ask me to miss out on that" Hope answered back leaving a sense of happiness as well as hopelessness at her daughter's words.

If only April knew how much her daughter wanted her around. She could have pushed for the wedding to happen a lot earlier when she first got engaged. But she didn't because April tend to believe in letting Hope makes all the choices for her life.

Growing up without having the support of her mother made April do the complete opposite. She supported her daughter in everything without an objection. It was by sheer goodness of her daughter's heart that she never gave April a reason to regret her unconditional support.

The tap on their main door indicated Anna's arrival. April already knew Hope's take on inviting Anna for the birthday weekend. Her daughter wanted it to be just them.

"Let her in Hope. I have to check on the oven" April spoke up as she went inside the kitchen leaving Anna and Hope alone for awhile.

April tried her hardest never to take too much away from Anna as Hope's mother. When Anna was 16, she got pregnant and her parents didn't allow her to choose any other option except giving birth to Hope.

When April stepped in to raise Hope, everyone was happy with that decision. Anna went away for college and stayed out of town for almost half of Hope's life. Whenever she visited it was as April's cousin and her fun loving aunt.

Until Anna got married and settled down. April knew Anna wanted more time with Hope after that especially when she gave birth to her twins Austin and Grace.

Anna wanted her whole family back but it was little too late for Hope to ever feel that way. Hope always knew she was adopted and when she was 18, April decided she need to know about Anna.

It wasn't a surprise that her daughter already guessed the truth.

"I always kind of knew I guess mom. Because you don't have any family around except Aunt Anna and sometimes I would see her looking at me longingly and I guessed the truth. I just didn't want to confront it I suppose because it doesn't change anything. You will always be my mom and she would always remain my aunt." Hope told her back then and for the next 12 years in spite of Anna efforts, Hope remained just the same.

But that doesn't mean April didn't try to build more relationship between them because if there was one thing she knew about Anna in all those years it was that she regretted giving up Hope even when April knew it was the only way for everyone to have their happiness.

A happiness April guaranteed everyone by her decision of adopting Hope. A happiness she feared would shatter when the perfect illusion she created would fade away. Because her time was running out.

P.S: " That is it for now. Let me know your thoughts and feedbacks. Hit the votes if you liked it. "

Juanita Reid.