On my 47th birthday, I set the table for three—one seat left quietly waiting. Two years had passed since my daughter, Karen, stopped speaking to me. Every year, I still placed her plate at the table, holding on to a little hope. My husband, Brad, noticed but didn’t say much. That night, I wished for one thing—to see my daughter again.
After dinner, I found an old card tucked inside a drawer. It was a birthday card from Karen that I had never received. My hands trembled as I read her words—apologies, love, and an address in Canada. She hadn’t abandoned me; the card had simply never reached me. For the first time in years, I felt a spark of hope.
The next morning, I told Brad I needed to see her. Together, we visited my ex-husband, Nigel, who admitted he had forgotten to give me the card. My heart sank, but the message inside gave me strength. Karen had written that she missed me and wanted me to visit. I packed my bag that night, ready to make things right.
When I arrived at her home, the door opened before I could knock. There she was—older, beautiful, and still my little girl. Without a word, she ran into my arms, and I held her close, feeling the years of distance melt away. That day, I didn’t just find my daughter again—I found forgiveness, love, and a piece of myself I thought was gone.