Diane was just eight years old when her world changed forever. Her mother, Erika, planned a lengthy trip across Europe, leaving Diane with her aunt and uncle. “I want to go with you, Mom,” Diane pleaded, tugging on Erika’s packed bags.
Erika gently explained, “This is a business trip, sweetheart, but when I return, we’ll go to Disneyland.” Diane’s heart sank as her mother drove her to Aunt Karina and Uncle Roger’s house, promising she’d be back soon — a promise that would be broken time and again over the years.
The months turned to years, and Erika’s sporadic phone calls turned even less frequent. Diane longed for the day her mother would come home, but all she got was the news of her mother marrying a man in Italy.
“You’ll come here for college,” Erika would say, always putting off any immediate plans to reunite. Even as years passed, Diane grew more accustomed to her life with Karina and Roger, who became her true parents.
During Diane’s senior year, Aunt Karina handed her the phone with hopeful eyes — it was Erika again, with an invitation to visit Milan. Encouraged by her aunt and uncle, hoping it would bring closure, Diane reluctantly agreed.
“You’re going to love Italian boys,” Erika chirped over the phone, trying to make the idea sound more appealing. However, Diane’s arrival in Milan was met with criticism rather than warmth. “What are you wearing?” Erika scoffed, eyeing her daughter’s travel attire.
Her stay became only more awkward as Erika criticized Diane’s appearance and manners, aiming to mold her into someone who fit into her new life. Diane was even coerced to wear an elaborate dress for dinner with her stepfather, who paid little attention to her presence.
“You’re staying here. This is your home now,” Erika declared over dinner, the real reason for Diane’s visit slowly dawning on her — she was expected to fit into this new family like a puzzle piece in a completed picture.
Shocked and feeling utterly out of place, Diane asked for taxi money under the guise of wanting to explore Milan, only to catch the first flight back home to those who truly cared for her.
Back in the warm embrace of her aunt and uncle, Diane realized that her real family had always been with Karina and Roger. “You’re our daughter,” Uncle Roger assured her, and Diane knew she was home.
This experience taught Diane a few hard lessons. True family isn’t always about blood — it’s about love, support, and being there when it matters most. Diane realized that she didn’t need her mother’s approval to be happy; she already had all the love she needed.
