It had been thirteen years since I saw my daughter Harriet last. It hurt to think about the mistakes I’d made and the hopes I had that were dashed. But on Christmas Day, I got a letter from Harriet that made everything different.
I’ll never forget the day my whole world fell apart. My business had failed, I had lost my job, and my marriage was in trouble. Because she was tired of my problems, Rebecca, my wife, left me and took Harriet with her. I was left alone with my grief and shame over what I had done wrong.
But when I read Harriet’s letter, I felt a range of feelings, including happiness, thanks, and a small sense of hope. She found me after a long time and wanted to get back in touch. I felt like I had a purpose again after hearing her words. It had been years since I had felt that way.
Based on her message, Harriet had always been interested in when I would return to her life. She had kept the toy rabbit I gave her for her birthday and named Jimmy. She had carried it with her all these years. I felt better after hearing her words, and I knew I had been given a second chance.
Being at my lowest point was the best thing that had ever happened to me, as I thought back on my trip. It made me look at my life again, accept responsibility for what I did, and try to make things right. I slowly put my life back together by doing odd jobs and finally getting a stable job as a supervisor at a nearby store.
Even though things looked good on the outside, I was still feeling empty inside and missed the link I had lost with my daughter. We had been given a rare gift: a chance to make things right, rebuild our relationship, and make new memories together. I was getting ready to meet Harriet again.
I felt hopeful and refreshed while waiting for Harriet to arrive. It had been years since I had felt that way. It was a Christmas surprise that I will always remember. I knew I would do everything I could to be the father I should have been all along and make Harriet happy.
