UNCLE, TODAY IS MOM’S BIRTHDAY…

I WANTED TO BUY FLOWERS, BUT I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY…

Pasha’s world collapsed when he was only five years old.
His mother was gone. He stood in the corner of the room, frozen, confused — what was happening? Why was the house full of strangers? Who were they? Why was everyone speaking in hushed, strange tones and avoiding his eyes?

He didn’t understand why no one smiled. Why they told him, “Stay strong, sweetheart,” and hugged him as if he had lost something precious. All he knew was that he could no longer see his mother.

His father spent the whole day somewhere far away. He never came over, never hugged him, never said a word. He just sat on the side, silent and broken, like a stranger. Pasha went to the coffin and looked at his mother for a long time. She was so different… no warmth, no smile, no bedtime lullabies. Pale, cold, still. It was frightening, and he didn’t dare to get closer again.

Without his mother, everything turned gray. Empty. Two years later, his father remarried. The new woman, Galina, never became part of his world. On the contrary — she seemed irritated by him. She complained about everything, looked for faults, as if searching for reasons to be angry. And his father stayed silent. He didn’t defend him.

Every day, Pasha carried the pain of loss and longing deep inside. With each passing day, the desire to return to the time when his mother was alive grew stronger.

Today was a special day — her birthday. In the morning, Pasha woke up with only one thought: he had to visit her. Go to her grave. Bring flowers. White calla lilies — her favorite. He remembered them in her hands in old photos, shining beside her smile.

But… where to get the money? He decided to ask his father:

— Dad, can you give me some money? I really need it…

Before he could explain, Galina came out of the kitchen:

— What’s this?! Already asking your father for money?! Do you know how hard it is to earn a salary?

His father looked up and tried to stop her:

— Gal, wait. He hasn’t even said what it’s for. Son, tell me, what do you need?

— I want to buy flowers for Mom. White calla lilies. Today’s her birthday.

Galina snorted, folding her arms:

— Oh, wonderful! Flowers! Money for flowers! Why not take her to a restaurant too? Grab some from the garden and you’ll have your bouquet.

— They’re not there — Pasha answered softly but firmly. — They’re only sold in the store.

The father looked at his son for a moment, then turned back to his wife:

— Gal, go make dinner. I’m hungry.

She muttered and went back to the kitchen. His father returned to his newspaper. Pasha understood: there would be no money.

He quietly went to his room, took out an old piggy bank, and counted the coins. Not enough… but maybe enough to try. Without wasting time, he ran to the flower shop. From afar, he saw the snow-white calla lilies in the window. He stopped, holding his breath, then stepped inside.

— What do you want? — the shop assistant asked, eyeing him. — You’re probably in the wrong place. There are no toys or candy here. Only flowers.

— I want to buy… Calla lilies. How much is a bouquet?

She gave the price. Pasha put all his coins on the counter, but it was only half the amount.

— Please… I can work to pay it off! I’ll come every day, clean, dust, wash the floors… just lend me this bouquet.

— Are you crazy? — she scoffed. — Do you think I’m a millionaire who gives away flowers? Get out now, or I’ll call the police.

But Pasha didn’t give up:

— I’ll pay, I promise! I’ll work until I have enough! Please, understand…

— Look at this little actor! — she shouted so loudly that passersby began to look in. — Where are your parents? Maybe I should call social services! I’m telling you for the last time: get out!

At that moment, a man walked in. He had seen part of the scene and was outraged.

— Why are you yelling at him like that? — he asked the shop assistant. — You’re treating him as if he’d stolen something. But he’s just a boy.

— And who are you? — she snapped. — He almost stole the bouquet!

— “Almost stole”? — the man raised his voice. — You pounced on him like a predator! He needs help, and you’re threatening him.

The man knelt in front of Pasha:

— Hi, buddy. My name is Yura. Tell me, why are you so upset? You wanted to buy flowers but didn’t have enough money?

Between sobs, Pasha explained:

— I wanted to buy calla lilies… for my mom… She loved them so much. She died three years ago… Today’s her birthday… I wanted to take flowers to the cemetery.

Yura felt his heart tighten.

— Your mother would be proud of you — he said. — Show me which flowers you wanted. I’ll buy two bouquets: one for you and one for me.

Pasha pointed to the exact flowers Yura himself had planned to buy. He wondered if it was coincidence or a sign.

The boy left the shop holding the bouquet like a treasure. Shyly, he said:

— Uncle Yura, can I give you my phone number? I’ll pay you back.

— No need. Today’s a special day for me too. It’s for a woman I’ve loved for many years… And it seems she and your mother had the same taste in flowers.

Yura told how, years ago, he had loved a woman named Ira. They were separated by an accident and by lies. When he came back to find her, she was with another man and pregnant. Heartbroken, he left.

Eight years later, he returned, determined to see her again. But he discovered Ira had died three years earlier… and left behind a son. Seeing the fresh bouquet of calla lilies on her grave, he understood everything: the boy was his son.

Yura went to Pasha’s home. He found him in the yard and hugged him. Then Vlad, the man who had raised Pasha, appeared and said:

— If he wants to go with you, I won’t stop him. I was never really his father. Ira always loved only you. Before she died, she wanted to find you and tell you everything… but she didn’t have time.

Pasha looked at Yura and said:

— I always knew Vlad wasn’t my real father. I knew I’d meet you one day.

Yura hugged him tightly, crying from relief and love:

— Forgive me for taking so long… I’ll never leave you again.