Chapter 12 - THE LETTER THAT CAME HOME
Nathaniel gave me another envelope the following week.
It was old.
Yellowed.
Addressed to my mother.
Inside was a letter from my father.
He had written it shortly before his final hospitalization.
He described the fear of leaving his family behind.
His hopes for me.
His love for my mother.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
If Noelle grows up to be brave, tell her bravery isn't about never being afraid. It's about doing what's right when fear tells you to stay quiet.
I read it three times.
Then cried until I couldn't see the words.
That evening, I visited my mother's grave.
She had died during my final year of nursing school.
I placed flowers beside the stone.
“Mom,” I whispered.
“I think I finally understand.”
The wind moved through the trees.
I smiled through tears.
“You always told me to speak up.”
May you like
I looked at the letter.
“Now I know where you learned it.”
