‘I can’t believe it,’ she sighed and set the tea cup on the porch railing with a trembling hand. Suddenly she was back in that church, crying on her mother’s shoulders.
Her hands were still shaking as she tried to open the envelope. She took a big breath before she began to read Carl’s unmistakable handwriting.
‘Dear Jessica,
I don’t know if you’ll be happy to hear from me. But after all this, I want you to know that not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Your father threatened me on our wedding day, and I was young and scared. I shouldn’t have listened, but I did and I ran away. I moved to California with nothing but the clothes on my back.’
Jessica had to stop reading for a few moments and wipe away her tears. She knew her father had something to do with this. She knew Carl loved her and wouldn’t have done anything differently. It didn’t change anything, but it soothed an old pain that never went away. Carl had been right to leave. Her father had never seriously threatened or taken no for an answer. She focused on the letter again and continued reading.
‘I never married or had children. You were the love of my life and I wanted nothing else. I hope this letter helps you find yourself. I’m leaving my phone number and address so you can write to me if you want to. I don’t know how to use Facebook and all the stuff that kids have these days. But I hope to hear from you.
Sincerely, Carl.’
After finishing the letter, Jessica had tears flowing for a few minutes, but then she laughed. She also didn’t know how to use all this technology available these days. So she got up and went into the house to find her stationery. It was time to write a reply.
For the next few months they wrote to each other often, reminiscing about even the most insignificant moments in each other’s lives. Until Carl finally called her and they talked on the phone for hours. A year later, he moved back to Detroit and they resumed their lost relationship.
They were of age and probably didn’t spend as much time together, but they were going to enjoy each other’s love for as long as they could.
What can we learn from this story?
It’s never too late to find love again. Jessica gave up on relationships for many years until she found the love of her life again at age 75.
Tell your partner the truth. If Carl had told Jessica about her father’s threats, they could have eloped together or resolved the issue in some form. But he’s gone, and they’ll never know what might have been.
Share this story with your friends. Perhaps it will brighten their day and inspire them.