"As for why I became a mother so young, it was love. Like you, I lost my parents early and grew up in an orphanage. That's where I met Ricky. He was older than me, and he helped me cope with the pain of loss. He was very good at boxing and found success quickly. Even after he left the orphanage, Ricky still visited me. Years passed, and I kept loving him. It was very hard for me to see the one I loved with other girls."
"At some point, I realized that money, alcohol, and drugs had changed him greatly. That lifestyle led to him getting into an accident. It didn't affect his daily life, but he had to give up boxing. After that, all his friends scattered like rats from a sinking ship."
"Even if he had changed, I believed my Ricky—the one I had once loved—was still in there somewhere, and I was determined to bring him back. I gave it my all, but even that wasn't enough. So I decided to get pregnant. It seemed to me that my love and care, along with our child, could bring back the man I once loved. At first, it worked: he quit drinking and stopped using drugs. I was so happy, but my happy fairy tale ended very quickly. One day, when I was eight months pregnant, he got drunk and high. In his drug-fueled haze, he beat me. The fact that the doctors managed to save not only me but also the baby was called an incredible miracle."
"But there were consequences. Ray sustained a head injury that ruined his entire life. So the man I loved more than life itself became the one I hate with all my soul. It was only the presence of this little guy that allowed me to survive the betrayal of the man I would have done anything for. Sometimes it was very hard for me, but seeing how my son turned out, my only regret is that I let that head injury happen."
"I'm very glad my son managed to land a girl like you. Besides being very beautiful, I can clearly see that you love him. He has plenty of virtues, and I'm very proud of him. Let's be honest, he's no handsome prince. I won't ask if you're ready for what might happen, because I can see how much you love him. But I am curious—what did he do to win over such a beauty?"
Amy's story made Lily think deeply. But the woman's question brought her back to reality.
"I hope you'll understand, but I'm not ready to tell you everything about the circumstances of our meeting just yet. Your son not only helped me in a difficult moment, not only saved my family—he breathed life into me and made me keep fighting."
"I know that one day I'll be in great pain. Like you, I don't know if I'll be able to cope if the worst happens. But if my love can make Ray's world even a little bit brighter, I'll be by his side."
"I think I must have used up several lifetimes' worth of luck to get you," Ray said. The girl's words had touched his soul.
"I think you're right," Amy said, "so take care of her! If I find out you've hurt this angel, you'll face cruel castration without anesthesia."
The tone Amy used to say this made not only Ray but also Lily shudder.
"Will you finish school soon? Have you thought about where you'll go to study?" Amy asked gently.
"I think after graduating, I'll just go to work."
"I understand you, but please still consider continuing your education. Ray and I will help your grandmother and sister, and even if you can't get into a tuition-free program, I'm sure we can gather the money if needed."
From Amy's tone, it was clear she was sincere, so Lily said she'd think about it. But everyone understood the girl wouldn't change her mind. Seeing this, Amy changed the subject. After that, the rest of the dinner passed in a cozy atmosphere. Lily found the mother and son's manner of communicating very amusing. Sometimes it even seemed to her that Amy was her own mother, because when the woman addressed her, her voice was full of warmth and sincere care.
After all three had cleaned up the kitchen, Ray brought out a large teddy bear, which he handed to Lily with the words:
"He'll remind you of me when I'm not around."