Years after adopting little Sam, David received a phone call from a lawyer. “Mr. Wallace,” the man said. “I’m calling on behalf of your adoptive son’s birth parent…”

“What do you want?” Dave asked sharply, a knot tightening in his stomach.

“I would like to talk to you…” the lawyer began.

“I’m not interested,” Dave interrupted. “Those people abandoned my son. There’s nothing you could say that I want to hear.”

“Please, Mr. Wallace,” the lawyer implored. “For Sam’s sake.”
David hesitated, torn between his protective instincts and his curiosity. Reluctantly, he agreed to meet the lawyer. When he arrived at the lawyer’s office, a middle-aged man with kind eyes greeted him and handed him an envelope.
“This will explain everything so much better than I ever could, Mr. Wallace,” the lawyer said.

David sat down and carefully opened the letter. As he read, his heart sank.

Dear Mr. Wallace,
I hope this letter finds you and Sam well. My name is Jessica, and I am Sam’s birth mother. Before you discard this letter, I beg you to read on. I want to explain why I had to give him up and to assure you that it was the hardest decision I’ve ever made.

When Sam was born, I was in a very abusive relationship. His father was a dangerous man, and I feared for Sam’s safety every single day. I knew I couldn’t protect him from the life we were living, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him growing up in such a toxic environment.

I made the heart-wrenching decision to give Sam up for adoption because I wanted him to have a chance at a happy, safe, and loving life—something I knew I couldn’t provide at the time. I chose you and your wife because I believed you could give him everything he deserved.

Please understand that I never stopped loving him. I have thought about him every single day since the moment I let him go. I’ve kept track of his milestones and achievements through the updates you kindly sent through the agency. He seems like a wonderful boy, and I am grateful to you for raising him with such love and care.

The reason I’ve reached out now is that I am terminally ill. I don’t have much time left, and there are things I need to say to Sam, and things I want him to know about his birth family—stories, traditions, and a history that belongs to him. I don’t want to disrupt his life or take him away from you. I just want to meet him, to see the young man he has become, and perhaps answer any questions he might have about his origins.

Please, Mr. Wallace, consider this for Sam’s sake. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I am hoping you will find it in your heart to let me see my son one last time.

Thank you for reading this. No matter what you decide, please tell Sam that I love him and that my decision to let him go was made out of pure love and desperation to give him a better life.

Sincerely,
Jessica
David’s hands trembled as he finished the letter. He looked up at the lawyer, who was watching him with a sympathetic expression.
“I didn’t know,” David said quietly. “I thought she just abandoned him.”

The lawyer nodded. “I understand, Mr. Wallace. It’s a complicated and painful situation. Jessica wanted you to know the truth and to have the chance to decide what’s best for Sam.”

David took a deep breath. “I need to talk to my wife and to Sam. We need to decide this together.”

The lawyer smiled. “Of course, Mr. Wallace. Take all the time you need.”

David left the office with the letter clutched in his hand, his mind swirling with emotions. He knew this would be a difficult conversation with his family, but he also knew that Sam had the right to know the truth about his past.

When he got home, David gathered his family and shared the letter with them. They sat together, holding hands, as they read Jessica’s heartfelt words. Tears flowed, and they talked late into the night about what this meant for their family.

In the end, they decided that Sam should meet his birth mother. They reached out to the lawyer and arranged a visit.

A few days later, they found themselves outside a small, cozy house. David held Sam’s hand tightly as they walked up to the door and knocked. When the door opened, a frail woman with kind eyes stood before them.

“Hello, Sam,” Jessica said, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Sam stepped forward, his eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear. “Hi,” he said softly.

David watched as Jessica embraced Sam gently, tears streaming down her face. In that moment, he realized that this reunion was not just for Sam’s sake, but for all of them—a chance to heal, to understand, and to let love bridge the years of separation.