As she grew older, however, something in the letters began to change. On her 10th birthday, the words started to feel unfamiliar, a little distant, as if written by someone trying to capture the essence of her father, yet missing the soul
By Aditi Rana
Emily grew up with a quiet, gentle love for her father—a man she barely knew, yet felt close to through the letters he would send her. Every month, a letter would arrive, and in his neat, careful handwriting, he would pour out his love for her, telling her how much he missed her and wished to come home. But, always, his requests for leave were denied, and he remained a distant figure, forever just beyond her reach.
As she grew older, however, something in the letters began to change. On her 10th birthday, the words started to feel unfamiliar, a little distant, as if written by someone trying to capture the essence of her father, yet missing the soul.
Each year, the letters encouraged her to be strong and gave reasons why he couldn’t be there, but they didn’t sound like the man she’d come to know through those cherished words. Still, she wrote a letter every month which started with ‘Dear Father’, and ended with I wish with all of my heart that you will somehow show up on my next birthday.
War does not only claim the lives of soldiers on the battlefield; it extracts a toll from their families, too. Mothers become widows, burdened with grief and responsibility, while children are left to navigate a world shadowed by loss. They bear the weight of unanswered questions, the longing for a father who should have been there to guide them.
Daughters like Emily grow up in homes filled with echoes of absence, learning to carry the pain of their loved ones without truly understanding the depth of that sorrow. Each letter is a reminder not only of love, but also of the emptiness that comes from a war fought far from home, the invisible scars etched into their lives.
Occasionally, she would notice her mother sitting alone at the kitchen table, her head bowed over a piece of paper, writing for hours. Sometimes, Emily caught the faint glisten of tears on her mother’s cheeks, but when she asked, her mother would only smile and say it was nothing. Emily sensed that her mother was carrying a heavy burden, and though she never asked about it, her heart told her the truth that her mother tried to keep hidden.
Her mother had been writing the letters.
She had been trying to protect her daughter from a truth too painful to bear—that her father was gone, lost to the war, and would never come home. Emily understood, without words, that her mother had done this out of love, weaving a tapestry of memories so her father’s presence would never fade.
On her 13th birthday, Emily received her letter, just as she had every year. But, this time, she picked up a pen of her own and began to write, but unlike every other letter she wrote, this one started with ‘Dear Mother’.
She poured her heart into the letter, telling her mother, “Thank you for giving me pieces of him, for keeping his memory alive with every word. I know he’s been watching over us, but I also know it’s been you holding us together all these years. Thank you for loving me enough to keep him close, even when it must have hurt.”
When her mother found the letter, she clutched it to her chest, tears filling her eyes. She knew, at that moment, that her daughter had understood the depth of her love, and the two held each other in silence, feeling the presence of the man they both loved so deeply.
From that day on, they shared the memory of him openly, together, with a love that would forever bind them—stronger than any distance, deeper than any loss.
Aditi Rana is a student of Class 10, Dr BR Ambedkar School of Specialized Excellence, Andrews Ganj, Delhi Board of Secondary Education, Delhi government.
Thanks for this Aditi.
It’s precious writing
What a tender and beautifully written story, Aditi! Such has been the depth in conveying emotions of love, loss, and resilience. The bonding of Emily with her mother has been so touching and inspirational. Keep this up-and-rising storytelling.It is indeed a gift to be able to write so movingly!
The story indeed explores the warmth of love and care and the cold essence of adsense from loved not by will but by helplessness. War takes a alot and gives just tears and sadness in return to the family of soldiers. Children’s who suffer the loss of their guardian without a glimpse of their presence miss out a piece of their heart just like Emily beautifully written and this article is warm to the heart .
your article beautifully captures the depth of love, sacrifice, and understanding between Emily and her mother. You’ve demonstrated a strong ability to convey powerful emotions through subtle details and a well-crafted narrative. The way you unfolded the story, from the letters to the heartfelt letter from Emily to her mother, was both moving and impactful.
The part when she realised that this was her mother , it melted me so deep . Keep nurturing your talent for storytelling . This piece shows your potential as a writer.
love is understood only in the time of war. A beautiful story.
What a well written piece, highly exceptional one
what a moving story of shared pain and resilience. What a beautiful mother and daughter relationship in the face of so much violence and war. Thank you for writing this
Ratna Raman
Not only are you a wonderful writer, you also inhabit a most sensitive soul for your age. God bless you, dear child. You are everything this beleagured land of ours, and this sad, sad world of ours needs, today, and everyday.
Really very interesting and wonderful Article, Thanks Aditi
This is indeed a testament to a radical spark of literary genius, ignited in the mind of a young soul! This text, imbued with threads of the ideals of justice, humanity, and pure emotion, is an affirmation of the boundless potential of the inherent, invincible human spirit.
The writer, Aditi, a mere class X student, has penned a piece of fiction that indeed speaks to the depths of the soul. Surely, I am quite awestruck by her polished talent and, more importantly, her immaculate idealism. May her star shine brightly upon the literary horizon.
Very well done, Aditi! Your story has beautifully portrayed the mother-daughter bond.The story is a heart-wrenching and uplifting tale of love, loss, and resilience. A mother writes letters to her daughter, pretending to be from her father who died in war. As the daughter grows older, she discovers the truth and thanks her mother for keeping her father’s memory alive. Somewhere, this story is true in itself. keep doing like this.
Only , a very young, as young as Aditi could write such a moving letter, straight from the heart, as children remain bereft of deceit, connivance and hypocrisy. They are really angles, little angles. Let them remain angels and save them from the murderous vultures and hawks of castes, religions and money!
This story is so touching and emotional. Aditi has done an amazing job of showing the love and sacrifices of a mother for her child. The way Emily finds out the truth about her father and still thanks her mother is so heartwarming. It’s written so beautifully and really makes you feel the pain of losing someone. Great job, Aditi! Keep writing such wonderful stories.
Very well written; its very moving and evocative as well. Please share more of your writing.
Aditi,
That was very well written. You have all the makings of a good writer with a sensitivity that goes beyond your age. I enjoyed reading your story and thought it was remarkable and very engaging. Keep it up!