After the funeral, I returned home to a quiet house filled with memories of Emily. As I looked at our engagement photo, something slipped from the back of the frame — an old picture of Emily holding a newborn. My heart sank. We had no children together, so who was the baby?
On the back of the photo was Emily’s handwriting: “Mama will always love you.” Alongside it, a phone number. Unsure of what I had found, I called the number. A woman named Sarah answered. What she revealed stunned me — Emily had a daughter during her college years, long before we met, and gave her up for adoption.
The girl, named Lily, had grown into a kind and compassionate teacher. Emily had quietly stayed in touch through Sarah, who had adopted her. She had kept this part of her life hidden, not out of shame, but from a place of love. The next day, I met Lily at a café. Her smile, her voice — she reminded me of Emily in the most beautiful way.
We talked for hours, sharing memories and building a connection. That night, I placed Lily’s photo beside our engagement picture. Though I had lost my wife, I had unknowingly gained something precious — a daughter. And this time, I promised myself I wouldn’t miss a single moment.