By Ameh Gabriel
The letter arrived on a rainy afternoon, tucked inside a simple brown envelope, its edges slightly crumpled. When Sarah saw the handwriting on the front, her hands trembled. She knew it well it was his.
She had waited for months, checking the mailbox every day, hoping for news. But deep down, she knew.
The silence had spoken louder than any words ever could.
Her husband, Captain James Carter, had been deployed to a distant land, serving his country with the courage she had always admired. The day he left, he had kissed her forehead, held her close, and whispered, “No matter what happens, remember that I love you.”
Now, standing by the window with the letter in her hands, she took a deep breath and opened it.
My dearest Sarah,
If you’re reading this, it means I am no longer by your side. I wish more than anything that I could hold you one last time, see your smile, and tell you how much I love you. But life doesn’t always give us the endings we want.
I want you to know that every single day I spent with you was the greatest gift. You made my life beautiful in a way I never thought possible. Your laughter was my favorite song, your kindness my greatest lesson, and your love my greatest treasure.
Tell Emily that her daddy loves her. Tell her that I will always be watching over her, that I am so proud of her, and that I believe she will grow up to be strong just like her mother. When she looks up at the stars, tell her I am up there, shining just for her.
Please don’t let this letter be the end of your happiness. Live, my love. Travel to the places we always talked about, chase your dreams, and find joy in the little things. Love again if your heart allows it because you deserve a love as beautiful as the one we shared.
And when the pain feels unbearable, when the nights are too long, and the tears won’t stop, close your eyes and remember me as I was the man who loved you with every part of his soul.
This is not goodbye, my love. It’s just a see-you-later.
Forever yours,
James
Sarah pressed the letter against her heart as silent tears fell onto the paper. She could almost hear his voice in every word, feel his warmth in every sentence.
The world knew James as a soldier, a hero. But to her, he was simply the man she loved the one who had promised forever, even when forever had been too short.
That night, as she tucked Emily into bed, she whispered softly, “Daddy sent us a letter today. He says he loves you.”
Emily, only five years old, looked up at her mother with wide, innocent eyes. “Is Daddy in the stars now?”
Sarah nodded, smiling through her tears. “Yes, sweetheart. And he’s watching over us, always.”
As she stepped outside, the rain had stopped, and the night sky stretched endlessly above her. Among the thousands of stars, she imagined one shining just a little brighter than the rest.
And for the first time since he left, she whispered back, “See you later, my love.”
