I found out I was adopted only a few months ago. Being 19 at the time, of course I felt incredibly betrayed. I was/am living away from home and I was so hurt about being lied to for so long, that I vowed I would never go back home to my "parents".

When I was told, they did at least have the decency to give me the details of my real mum. I immediately got in contact with her, and over the next couple of weeks, we chatted over emails and phone calls, getting to know each other. I was amazed, I instantly bonded with this woman I had never met. She told me my father left the moment she told him she was pregnant with me, and has no contact with him whatsoever.

About a month after I found out, we decided to meet up. I couldn't wait to see my real mum in person. We met at a busy café in the middle of London. I knew what she looked like from photos, but when I saw her I almost cried. She was the most beautiful woman in the world.

We both got a coffee and sat down. After the initial awkward small talk, we started talking more seriously. I eventually plucked up the courage to ask it: "Mum, why did you abandon me as a child? Why didn't you want me?" She hesitated, looking down into her coffee. She started stammering out some things about being a young, single mother, and how it would've been better to have someone else raise me. She always stayed in contact with my adoptive parents in case they ever wanted to introduce me, but they wanted nothing to do with her. And then, she looked straight at me, and told me something from the heart. "Pm_me_hedgehogs, I need to be honest with you. I would have kept you, but you should've used a serious tag."

I forgave my adoptive parents after that.