An elderly woman without children celebrates her 100th birthday by herself and without any company. The young man presented himself to her as her great-grandson.
Nobody cared that Ruby had an amazing birthday for anyone. She turned 100, but nobody was present to celebrate it with her.
As she had been for the majority of her life, Ruby was by herself. Ruby has grown up since her father left for war when she was eight years old.
Because of her mother’s frailty and withdrawal, Ruby’s father summoned him over and stated. He said sternly, “Ruby, I’m going to need you to be a big girl.” “You’re going to have to take care of your mom and be very responsible, okay?”
After Ruby responded, “Okay, Dad,” her childhood came to an end. When Ruby reached adulthood, she took care of her mother and her four younger siblings.
She eagerly awaited the return of her father so that she could resume her childhood, but he never did. The family learned that their father had perished in battle when Ruby was 12 years old.
My dad never returned home. Mom sobbed, shouted, and sobbed that the other kids were frightened to death. Mom received an injection from the visiting doctor, which caused her to regain her composure.
The mother was unable to work and received a very meager state pension. In those hard times, Ruby quit school and found work at the closest store that supplied fabrics, threads, buttons, and ribbons—everything needed to sew clothing.
Ruby was enthusiastic and brilliant, and she quickly helped Mrs. Dorris, the haberdashery’s owner.
Mrs. Dorris, who became a widow during the war, treated Ruby well in her own way.
She occasionally gave Ruby the most exquisite shreds and vibrant ribbons so that she could make herself some tiny holiday clothes. Ruby frequently sewed for both her mother and her siblings using this fabric.
Ruby’s mother grew much more distant as she aged. She was stumbling around the house in her nightgown, and Ruby had to keep a watch on her to make sure she didn’t leave the house and walk down the street in her attire.
Ruby wouldn’t let her four siblings work to support her since she was keen that they all complete their education. She gave them a firm, “Focus on school,” admonition. The best assistance you can provide for me is this.
Nobody acknowledged Ruby’s 18th birthday. Birthday cake, presents, and a party were all absent. Mrs. Dorris was one of those women who has no feelings, thus she was ignorant and unconcerned.
Mom became engrossed in her own world, and Ruby’s siblings, with their inborn juvenile egoism, were unaware that their older sister was also celebrating a birthday.
Ruby and Brad met that year. He had a modest smile and was tall and lean. He went to the shop to get needles for his mother, but he lingered to chat with her.
They began “dating,” as we would say back then. They attended dances and movies, parked, and shared a passionate kiss on Lover’s Lane. The kisses evolved into something more at that point.
Brad assured Ruby that he would marry her, that the two of them would live happily ever after, own a wonderful house, and raise children. Ruby continued by describing her mother, brothers, and sisters.
Brad, I have to take care of them,” Ruby said. I gave my father a promise. But when they leave for college in a few years, only mum will be left.
Will your crazed mother and your siblings relocate here with us? Brad queried. When our days are done? What are you saying, exactly?Brad was quite composed after that.
He didn’t kiss Ruby as he usually did, but they did decide to meet the next day to plan the wedding. He was never seen again by Ruby.
She discovered he had volunteered for a new battle in Asia the same day. She was pregnant and he abandoned her. She wondered herself, “What should I do?”
What kind of life could she give the child if she abandoned him? She had to put in nonstop work to support her mother and raise her siblings. It wasn’t safe for her to leave the infant with her mother while she worked.
Ruby started crying as she patted her stomach. She was forced to abandon her child. In the hopes that he would be adored and loved, she would put him up for adoption.
One of Ruby’s most difficult moments came when she had to forsake her infant daughter, but she was confident that she was doing morally. She whispered, “I love you, my lovely girl. Be happy.
Ruby struggled to recall the most recent time she had felt youthful because it had been so long. Ruby never turned her gaze away from Brad after that. She couldn’t ask him to carry her weight since she knew he would never do so under any circumstances.
Her sisters and brothers left the house when they each received their high school diplomas. Ruby had to care for her mother as usual when they got married and moved away. And when her mother passed away, she was 73 years old.
Ruby sobbed that day at the loss of her mother as well as the thought that her entire life had been a waste. She was empty. She is alone and has lost many of her friends since she retired.
I’m going to wait till I die,” Ruby vowed to herself. “It won’t be much longer now.” But that wasn’t the case. Ruby was a robust and healthy woman who would soon age 80 and eventually 90.
Unnoticed, the years passed. Nobody gave a damn. Ruby was growing older while sitting in her tiny home. A social worker visited the elderly woman when she was 99 years old.
She aimed to determine Ruby’s independence. She took a glance around and declared her living circumstances to be quite satisfactory. She didn’t even wish Ruby a happy birthday before leaving.
Ruby said to herself, “One hundred years.” “I haven’t lived a day, but I have seen a whole century of this world’s history.” The doorbell rang while she was sitting in the kitchen contemplating her life.
She opened the door after standing up. There was a young man standing there holding a sizable cake with the number 100 written clearly on top of it. He shouted happily, “Hello, Grandma!” “Happy birthday!”
Ruby gaped in surprise as she stood. Young man, you built the incorrect house.
He sighed, “No, I wasn’t misled. Ruby, you’re my grandmother. When my mother became eighty-one, I requested her to see the archives because she had always been curious about who her biological mother was.
Nobody believed you were still alive, If you don’t mind, my mother is waiting to meet you in the car.
“Your daughter?” Ruby enquired. “She… Will she come meet me? I… I lost hope in her. I wished for her to be content.
The young man explained, “She knows that my great-grandmother passed away. “We also know that you have been single for a very long time, but now you have a family: a daughter, five grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren!”
When Ruby started sobbing, the young man gave her a bear hug. It’s okay, he assured her. You’re going to have a terrific party, and we’re already here.
Ruby’s life was made complete when she finally got to meet her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. “Happy Birthday” was sung as the cake’s candles were lit. Ruby has never heard a sound so wonderful.
She said to her daughter, “After all, my life wasn’t a waste of time.” “I’m holding your hand!”
