The Gift of One beautiful Day

Dear Sweet Girl,

I got to see you after four long months. I was so nervous, not knowing what to expect. I worried you might not want to talk to me—or that maybe too much time had passed. But it was M’s birthday party, and the second you took your shoes off at the play gym, you made a beeline for me. You jumped straight into my arms, yelling, “Nana!”

You wrapped your little arms and legs around me, kissed my cheek, and told me over and over again that you missed me and loved me. My heart nearly burst right out of my chest. It took everything in me not to completely break down in tears. Then you ran and did the same for Papa, and I had to turn around for a moment just to compose myself.

Your three uncles were standing behind me, and when they saw you run into my arms like that, they all said how touching it was. They nearly lost it too.

For the rest of the party, you played next to me, with me, laughing and smiling like no time had passed. We even brought back an old favorite and played “baby”—I held you in my arms like we used to, and I sang your Too-ra-loo-ra lullaby. I could feel your little body relax, feel at home in my arms again. It was heaven for a little while.

I’m so grateful I got to see you, to hold you, and most of all, to tell you that I love you and miss you every single day. I think about you all the time, my sweet girl.

I hope someday you’ll know just how much I’ve fought for you—fought for your emotional well-being, your mental health, and for the stability and love that our relationship has always brought to your life. You are part of my heart, now and forever. And no matter where life takes us, that will never change.

Always and forever,

Nana