Nicholas abandoned his daughter, Paige, with his aging mother, Doris, to go on vacation with his new wife, Donna. What was meant to be a temporary arrangement turned into ten years of silence. Nicholas didn’t return, nor did he explain himself. Doris and Paige were left to fend for themselves, with Doris stepping in as Paige’s primary caregiver.
Nicholas had married a kind woman, Sandra, and they had a daughter, Paige. When Sandra passed away, Doris believed her son had simply been lonely, which led to him remarrying Donna quickly. However, as time went on, Paige became quieter, and Doris noticed the change. Nicholas began to grow more distant and preoccupied with his new wife.
Before long, Nicholas asked Doris to take care of Paige for a few weeks while he and Donna went on vacation. He claimed it was a necessary break for the family and assured Doris that he’d return. However, the return date came and went without a word. Nicholas disappeared, disconnected his phone number, and even sold his house. He abandoned his daughter and mother without a second thought.
Doris, determined to protect Paige, reassured her granddaughter that they would manage. Over the years, they built a life for themselves, with Paige growing into a successful and self-sufficient young woman. They didn’t rely on Nicholas, and though they had been abandoned, they didn’t let it break them.
A decade later, Nicholas reappeared, hoping to reconnect with his family. When he returned to his mother’s old house, he found it abandoned and in disrepair. Desperate for answers, he sought out a neighbor, who coldly informed him that Paige had married and was now living with Doris in a luxurious estate.
Nicholas was stunned by the change in their circumstances. When he visited the mansion and tried to rekindle a connection, Paige and Doris greeted him with cool indifference. Nicholas, expecting a warm welcome, was met with pointed questions about his abandonment. He attempted to blame his disappearance on Donna, claiming she had pressured him. But his excuses fell flat. Doris saw through his lies and remarked that Donna had likely left him when the money ran out.
Nicholas, now unemployed and desperate, asked for financial help. Paige, despite her resentment, handed him $5,000 and the keys to his old house. She made it clear that he shouldn’t expect anything more and told him not to come back. Though she had every reason to turn him away, Paige and Doris still showed him a degree of kindness.
Nicholas left, bitter and resentful, unable to grasp the full extent of his selfishness. He believed he had done what was necessary for himself, but in the end, he was left isolated and unappreciated.
The story illustrates how selfishness alienates people from those who love them. While Nicholas expected to share in his family’s prosperity, he learned that what you give is what you get. In the end, he received far more kindness than he deserved.