When Ellie turned sixteen, her life was completely controlled by her father’s strict will. She was a sensitive and insecure girl who struggled with her weight and self-esteem, living in a small village where everyone criticised each other.
Her father, a strict and impatient man, saw Ellie as nothing more than a burden. One day, he announced an unexpected decision: Ellie must marry Kyle, a stern blacksmith twice her age, a widower and father of two young children. At that moment, Ellie’s world fell apart.
Tears streamed down her face as she begged her father:
‘Why me?’ she asked, but her father remained indifferent.
‘Kyle needs a wife, and you have your destiny,’ he ordered.
Ellie had never met Kyle; she only knew about his lonely life in the mountains from stories.
Her heart sank at the thought of marrying a stranger and caring for children — a punishment she did not deserve.
The ceremony passed as if in a hazy fairy tale.
Ellie, modestly dressed and with trembling hands, listened to the whispers of her fellow villagers.
Kyle was a tall man, weather-beaten, who hardly spoke. There was a certain nobility in his eyes, but Ellie was too scared to notice it.
The children — Mia (8) and Ben (5) — were curious but looked at her with suspicion.
Ellie felt like a stranger in a family she had not chosen.
The mountain cabin was small, cold, and isolated from the village. Ellie tried to adapt.
Mia and Ben continued to ignore her, missing their mother. Kyle was often busy hunting or chopping wood, leaving her alone with all the responsibilities.
She suffered from loneliness, and her weight made every task more difficult. At night, she cried quietly, wondering if her life now meant nothing more than a loveless marriage in a house that felt like a fortress.
Ellie tried to get closer to the children. She baked cookies and served them with trembling hands.
Mia wrinkled her nose:
‘You’re not our mum.’
Ben hid behind her.
Ellie’s heart ached, but she didn’t give up. She believed in her lonely childhood and decided to be patient. She left small gifts: carved twigs, wildflowers, hoping to win their trust.
Kyle remained an enigma.
Silent, weary from grief, he spoke little.
But Ellie noticed the tender care he showed the children, despite his harsh nature.
One day, Ellie saw him carrying a heavy bundle of firewood.
Without a word, Kyle took the load from her hands.
‘You don’t have to do everything yourself,’ he said simply.
It was the first time he had spoken kindly, and Ellie felt a small spark of hope.
Life in the mountains was hard.
Ellie’s body ached from the work: carrying water, washing dishes, cooking.
But she didn’t complain.
She saw how Kyle worked without rest, and the hungry faces of the children made everything bearable.
One day, Mia fell ill with a fever.
Ellie nursed her all night, applying wet towels to her forehead.
Kyle watched silently, with a gentle gaze.
When Mia recovered, he hugged Ellie for the first time and whispered:
‘Thank you.’
Ellie’s heart filled with warmth.
Ben also grew closer to her, asking her to tell stories.
For the first time, Ellie felt that she could have a place here, no matter how small it was.
She began to see the mountains with new eyes: the tall pine trees, the fresh air, the tranquillity. Each element had its own beauty.
Every day she walked the trails to clear her mind.
The physical work was exhausting, but it toughened her up; her clothes became looser, her steps lighter.
The mountains that had once frightened her became a refuge.
Kyle began to talk more.
He told her about his late wife, Sarah, who had died in childbirth.
Ellie listened with a heart full of loss and shared her own pain: her father’s cruelty, her weight struggles.
For the first time, they laughed together. Ellie realised that Kyle was not the cold person she had feared, but a man with his own pain.
Rumours from the village reached the mountains. Ellie was nicknamed ‘the fat bride’ and Kyle was reprimanded.
Hearing this, Ellie felt insecure again.
She sought out Kyle, hoping he wouldn’t be angry.
But he said:
‘They don’t know you. I see how you work, how you take care of Mia and Ben.’
His words were simple but powerful.
The winter was harsh. A snowstorm hit the hut, and food supplies began to run low.
Ellie carefully rationed the food, making sure Mia and Ben ate first.
Kyle noticed her dedication and taught her how to hunt.
Her hands trembled as she held the weapon, but Kyle’s patience calmed her.
‘You’re stronger than you think,’ he said.
Ellie’s bond with the children grew stronger every day.
Mia helped in the kitchen, and Ben never left her side, calling her ‘Ellie Mummy.’
They sang songs their mother used to sing, and the hut was filled with laughter.
At that moment, Ellie realised she was creating a family.
One evening, Kyle found Ellie admiring the stars.
‘You’ve changed,’ he whispered.
And it was true. She had changed not only outwardly, but also inwardly. She was proud of herself.
Once, a bear approached the hut; Ellie, who had previously been afraid of nature, stayed close to Kyle and helped him chase it away.
Then he took her by the hand:
‘Now you’re part of us,’ he said.
Ellie’s heart was beating not with fear, but with understanding: she was in love.
When her father came to visit, Ellie stood firm in the face of his cold words.
‘It’s not your decision,’ she said firmly. ‘This is my home now.’
Her father left, stunned, and Kyle, who had heard everything, nodded respectfully.
The children now quietly called him ‘Dad.’
Her transformation was obvious. She hadn’t lost weight out of shame, but through hard work and determination.
One evening, by the fireplace, Kyle took her hand.
‘I thought it was impossible,’ he said. ‘But I’m glad you’re here.’
The annual village festival was approaching.
Ellie was hesitant, but Kyle insisted that they go together as a family.
Walking alongside Mia and Ben made her proud, and the villagers’ glances reflected their admiration.
At the festival, Kyle got down on one knee, showed her a simple ring, and said:
‘Ellie, thanks to you, we’re a family again. Stay not because you have to, but because you want to.’
Ellie nodded, tears in her eyes. The crowd immediately applauded, and Mia and Ben hugged her tightly.
Now it was her decision, not her father’s. She chose love.
Life went on as usual.
The cottage, once cold and empty, was now filled with laughter and love.
Years later, when her father fell ill and asked for forgiveness, Ellie forgave him not for his sake, but for her own, to heal old wounds.
Her life in the mountains blossomed again. The villagers who had once despised her now called her ‘Mother of the Mountains’ and listened to her advice.
As time passed, Mia and Ben grew up, and the love between Ellie and Kyle remained strong.
One evening, Mia, now a teenager, asked about Ellie’s past. Ellie told her about fear, shame, and transformation.
‘You are the strongest person I know,’ said her daughter.
And as Ellie, Kyle, Mia, and Ben watched the sunset together, they felt a deep sense of peace.
The frightened sixteen-year-old girl was gone, replaced by a woman who had found her own strength.
Her father’s cruel decision had led her to love, family, and herself.
Whispering to Kyle, she said,
‘You are my home.’
He kissed her forehead, and together they looked to the future, rooted in the mountains that had become their home.
