Daniel looked down.
“There was a car accident during a winter storm. Your mother died that night.”
Silence filled the room.
I felt Noah’s hand searching for mine.
I held it tightly.
Daniel continued.
“You were injured and taken to the hospital. But there was confusion in the paperwork. Because your father wasn’t listed, you were transferred into the foster system before we could intervene.”
Noah’s voice was barely a whisper.
“You tried to find me?”
“For years,” Daniel said. “But records were lost, agencies changed, and eventually we were told you had been adopted under another name.”
“But I wasn’t,” Noah said.
“No,” Daniel replied softly.
For illustrative purposes only
The Letter
Daniel slid the envelope across the table.
Inside were documents… and a single folded letter.
“Your mother wrote this shortly before the accident,” he said.
Noah opened it with trembling hands.
He read silently for a moment.
Then he began reading aloud.
“To whoever helps raise my son… thank you. His name is Noah. He loves blueberry jam and bedtime stories. He’s brave even when he’s scared.”
Noah’s voice shook.
“Please don’t let anyone tell him he’s small because he uses a wheelchair. My son was born to live a full life.”
Tears slid down his cheeks.
See more on the next page
