Chapter 2: Retirement Gift
Dear Miles,
Happy birthday, my dear son. Eighteen years — I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time. I hope wherever you are, this letter somehow reaches you and reminds you that you are not forgotten.
The twins, Hope and Asher, just turned two last month. They’re growing so fast — always laughing and curious about everything. Daniel is a wonderful father to them. He’s kind, patient, and tries every day to fill the void that your absence has left in my life. I wish you could see them someday. They ask about their big brother often, and I tell them stories about you, hoping those tales keep your memory alive for them.
I won’t lie, some days are harder than others. The silence in the house is heavy. I miss your laughter, your mischief, and even the quiet moments when you’d sit beside me, just being there. Life hasn’t been easy, but I’ve held onto the hope that you might come back to us. Every year, on your birthday, I write these letters, hoping one day you’ll read them, hoping you’ll know that my love for you never faded.
Daniel and I talk about you often. He’s never met you, but he understands how much you mean to me. I’ve shared with him every memory I have, every picture I kept safe in a box under my bed. Sometimes I wonder what kind of man you’ve become. Are you happy? Are you safe? Do you think of me?
No matter what you’ve been through or where life has taken you, I want you to know that you always have a home here — a place where you’re loved and awaited. The house still holds the echoes of your childhood, the scent of your favorite books, and the warmth of your laughter in the walls. Whenever I sit by the window, I imagine you coming back through that door, and it’s the hope that keeps me going.
Please be careful, my son. The world can be a cruel place, but I believe in your strength and your heart. Remember that you are never alone. We are here, always thinking of you, always wishing you well.
If you ever come back, or if these words find their way to you, know that you are deeply missed and eternally loved.
With all my heart,
Mom
Miles folded the letter carefully, the weight of his mother’s words settling deep inside him.