Chloe visited her sick mother, Helen, every week. One day, while at her mom’s house, she decided to clean the attic. It seemed like no one had been up there for years. While cleaning, she found a box of old letters that could hold the answer to her biggest question—why her father left. But one letter stood out. It was sealed and had never been opened.
Chloe, now 34, had been coming to visit her mother more often recently. Helen’s health had gotten worse, and she was now bedridden and weak.
Chloe couldn’t shake the fear that any visit could be the last. This feeling hung over her heart constantly.
Every week, Chloe would come by with groceries. She cooked meals for her mother and handled the tasks that Helen could no longer do.
It was hard for Chloe to watch her once-strong mother, Helen, grow so weak. But Chloe knew it was important to be there, no matter how difficult it felt.
One chilly afternoon, Chloe stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup. The smell of chicken and herbs filled the room, and the bubbling of the broth was the only sound.
But then Helen’s sharp voice broke the silence from the living room.
“You know, at your age, I already had you,” Helen called, sounding irritated. “When are you going to have children?”
Chloe tensed, gripping the spoon tighter. Her mother had made this comment before, but it always hurt.
Helen had grown more critical with age. She often commented on Chloe’s lack of children, her career, or her relationship. Chloe tried not to let it get to her, but it was tiring.
“Maybe one day, Mom,” Chloe replied softly, not wanting to argue since Helen wasn’t well enough for it.
After feeding Helen and making sure she was comfortable, Chloe tidied up the kitchen. The house was a mess since her mother’s illness had worsened, and there was always so much to do.
When Helen finally fell asleep, Chloe decided to tackle a bigger job—the attic. No one had been up there for years, and it was time to clean it out.
The attic was dimly lit, with thick layers of dust covering everything. Cobwebs hung in the corners, and the air smelled musty.
As Chloe sorted through old belongings, something caught her eye—a small box in the corner. She pulled it out and saw it was locked. After finding a hammer, she gently tapped the rusty lock until it broke.
Inside were dozens of old letters, yellowed with age. Chloe’s breath caught as she realized they were love letters from her father—the man she had never known.
Each letter was filled with love and promises to return soon. Her father had been an actor, traveling with a theater troupe. In his letters, he sent money and wrote about missing Helen. Chloe was completely absorbed, learning about a love story she had never heard.
At the bottom of the box, Chloe found one final letter. It was still sealed, as if waiting all these years. Her heart raced—why hadn’t her mother opened it? What secrets did it hold?
Chloe knew she couldn’t open it without asking her mother first, no matter how badly she wanted to know the truth.
She went to her mother’s room, where Helen was awake. Chloe hesitated, knowing this would upset her.
“Mom, I found a box of letters in the attic. They’re from Dad,” Chloe said carefully.
Helen’s face hardened, and she snapped, “What were you doing going through my things?”
“I was just cleaning,” Chloe answered quickly. “But there’s one letter you never opened. Why?”
Helen’s face flushed with anger. “Burn them! I never opened that letter for a reason. You will never read it! Swear it!”
Chloe was shocked. “But Mom, don’t I have a right to know? He’s my father, and I know nothing about him.”
Helen sighed deeply, too exhausted to argue anymore. Chloe, feeling defeated, left the room, still holding the unopened letter.
Chloe sat in the living room, staring at the sealed envelope. This letter might finally reveal why her father had left, but part of her didn’t want to open it. What if the truth was worse than the mystery?
After a long pause, Chloe took a deep breath and opened the letter. Her heart sank as she saw it was charred, but the message was clear: her father loved Helen and their unborn child. He had promised to come back.
Behind it was another letter, from her father’s best friend, explaining that her father had died a hero, saving people from a fire during one of his performances.
Chloe rushed back to her mother’s room, demanding, “Why didn’t you tell me? Dad loved us!”
Helen’s voice trembled as she explained, “He loved us, but he loved his work more. He stayed behind to help people in a fire and died.”
Chloe was stunned. “He died… a hero?”
Helen nodded. “I couldn’t read that letter. I wanted to forget.”
Chloe sat down beside her mother. “Do you want me to read it to you?”
Helen hesitated but smiled through her tears. “I’d love that.”
With a deep breath, Chloe began to read her father’s final words aloud, letting the love he left behind fill the room.
15 Strong Women Break Stereotypes About How the Body “Should” Look
There are women out there who are challenging societal norms and breaking free from the constraints of what the media tells us we “should” look like. These 15 women are not just strong physically, but also mentally and emotionally as they pave the way for body positivity and self-love. Their stories are inspiring, empowering, and proof that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to the human body.
1. “To trim or not to trim…. That is the question…”
2. “Call me Ariel and hand me a Dinglehopper because I’m a mermaid.”
3. “I’ve struggled with body image my whole life, but I’m realizing I kind of look like those statues of Ancient Greek women.”
4. “I was always worried about my big stomach in jumpsuits, but I finally figured out that I look good.”
5. All bodies are beautiful, including everything that makes you feel comfortable.
6. At the end of the day what’s important is that you feel great in your body.
7. “Only 4 more days till we meet the trio! So itchy!”
8. “I’m beautiful and I love my body!”
9. “This is a reminder to you all that you can have cellulite and spider veins and still be hot!”
10. “I ordered this corset top for my wedding this summer. I’ll definitely be rocking the hairy pits for the ceremony/reception.”
11. “Finally getting happy with my body.”
12. “Love my dress, learning to also love my body.”
13. Lizzo explains: “I love normalizing my black elbows. I think it’s beautiful.”
14. Tyra Banks is happy with her body: “My body is fuller. And so is my mind.”
15. “You are more than your body, and you get to decide what beauty is,” model Iskra Lawrence believes.
Check out these articles too, to get your daily dose of inspiration:
- 11 Famous Models Who Aren’t Afraid to Show Their Unfiltered Side
- Why Body Positivity Doesn’t Actually Promote Obesity
- 24 People Who Changed Their Hairstyle and Jazzed Up Their Life
- 21 People Who Changed Themselves Without Plastic Surgery
- 20+ People Who Changed Their Look So Dramatically, Even Their Relatives Didn’t Recognize Them
Preview photo credit tyrabanks / Instagram
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