The box was full of envelopes.
My hands trembled as I lifted the first envelope.
I didn’t recognize the handwriting, but Sophie’s name was on it.
“Read it to me, Mommy,” Sophie whispered, climbing onto my lap.
I unfolded the paper and swallowed hard.
I didn’t recognize the handwriting, but Sophie’s name was on it.
“Sophie, you are the bravest girl I have ever met. Every time you smiled through a needle stick, you taught me how to be stronger.”
Sophie’s eyes went wide.
“That’s Nurse Marcy!”
I pulled out another envelope.
“Sophie, your smile made every day in my classroom brighter. You reminded all of us that kindness is the greatest kind of courage.”
“You taught me how to be stronger.”
“That’s from my teacher, Mrs. Lucy!” Sophie grinned.
Another was from our neighbor across the hall.
“Thank you for every drawing you slipped under my door. I’ll treasure every single one.”
Then another.
“To my favorite little customer,” the hospital janitor wrote. “Those lollipops I gave you were never really for cheering you up. They were to thank you for cheering me up.”
There were dozens more.
“They were to thank you for cheering me up.”
“There are so many,” I breathed.
I flipped through the rest of the envelopes.
I counted thirty-odd letters for Sophie.
Right at the bottom of the box, I found one envelope that was different from the rest.
Dad had written my name across it.
I opened it with shaking fingers.
I found one envelope that was different from the rest.
My dear girl,
If you’re reading this, I didn’t make it to the ocean with you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was sick, but I couldn’t do that to you, not when it’s been so hard with Sophie.
I also couldn’t leave you thinking you were alone.
So I asked everyone who ever loved our Sophie to write a letter telling her what makes her so special.
I couldn’t leave you thinking you were alone.
