“Thank you for flying with us. See you next time!” With these words, Lincy, the flight attendant, saw off the last passenger from her flight. The trip had been quite uneventful, with no trouble from passengers.
“Gosh, I missed such calm flights with no incidents,” Lincy thought as she cleaned between the seats.
Suddenly, she heard a strange mewing sound, like a kitten. She approached the last seat in the cabin and froze — there was a child. A tiny, adorable baby.
“Oh my God, his mother must be going crazy now!” Lincy exclaimed aloud. As she reached for the baby, she noticed a note lying with him. With trembling hands, she unfolded it.
“Don’t waste time looking for me if you find this note. I could never provide him a good life. I hope you will take him and care for him as your own. I would be happy if you named him Matthew. Matthew Harris. This is my only request. And please, forgive me.”
Lincy’s heart pounded as she read the note. She looked down at the baby, who gurgled and waved his tiny fists. Tears filled her eyes as she realized the enormity of the situation.
Quickly, she called the authorities and her airline supervisor, who arrived promptly. After hours of questioning and paperwork, it was determined that the baby would be taken into the care of social services. However, Lincy couldn’t get the baby — Matthew — out of her mind. She felt a strong connection to him, one that she couldn’t explain.
After a sleepless night, Lincy made a decision. She contacted social services and expressed her desire to adopt Matthew. The process was long and arduous, filled with home visits, interviews, and countless forms. But after several months, her persistence paid off, and Matthew officially became her son.
The years flew by, and Matthew grew into a bright, kind-hearted boy. Lincy often thought about his birth mother and the circumstances that led her to leave him on the plane. She wondered if she was watching from afar, hoping to know that Matthew was safe and loved.
Thirteen years later, on Matthew’s thirteenth birthday, an unexpected letter arrived at their home. It was from a woman named Grace Harris, and it read:
“Dear Lincy and Matthew,
I hope this letter finds you both well. I am Grace, Matthew’s birth mother. I cannot express how grateful I am for what you have done for my son. Leaving him was the hardest decision of my life, but I knew it was the right one. I have followed your lives from a distance, knowing he was in good hands.
Now that Matthew is older, I would like the chance to meet him, if you both agree. I want to explain my decision and answer any questions he might have. But most importantly, I want to thank you in person for giving him the life I never could.
With all my heart,
Grace”
Lincy showed Matthew the letter, and they talked for hours about his feelings and thoughts. Matthew was curious but also nervous. Eventually, he decided he wanted to meet Grace.
They arranged a meeting in a nearby park. As Lincy and Matthew approached the bench where Grace was sitting, Matthew squeezed Lincy’s hand tightly. Grace stood up, tears streaming down her face as she saw the young man her baby had become.
“Matthew,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You’ve grown into such a fine young man.”
Matthew looked at her, a mix of emotions swirling in his eyes. “Why did you leave me?” he asked softly.
Grace knelt down to his level, her heart breaking. “I wanted to give you the best life possible, and I couldn’t do that. I knew Lincy would love and care for you like her own.”
Matthew nodded slowly, understanding dawning on his face. He looked at Lincy, then back at Grace. “Thank you for making sure I had a good life,” he said, his voice steady.
Lincy smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with pride. In that moment, she knew they were not just a family bound by circumstance but by the love they shared. And for the first time in thirteen years, Grace felt a peace she had never known, seeing her son happy and thriving.
