My Dearest Kayla,
I hope that when you find this letter, you are old enough to understand the words etched upon it, words that are wrought from the deepest chambers of my heart. Life, in its infinite mystery, doesn't always unfold as we wish. And it is with a heaviness of heart, yet a love so profound that transcends the confines of time, that I find myself writing to you now.
Kayla, you are my heart's song, the beacon of my hopes. The fact that I'm crafting this missive is testimony to my fears, fears that I might leave you prematurely. It is a possibility that no mother ever wishes to contemplate. Yet here I am, writing words that I pray you may never need to read. But if you are reading this, it means that circumstances have played out as I feared.
I remember the first time you smiled at me, just a few days old but already full of such bright, innocent joy. It was in that moment I knew that my love for you was something beyond comprehension, a love that would traverse any distance and overcome any obstacle. I yearn to be there for you — to love you, to guide you, to answer the numerous questions you will inevitably have. But I fear I may not have that privilege. A cloud of uncertainty hangs heavily over the Children, a shadow that threatens to consume me, and I am fearful of its implications.
I hope Mirah has painted a picture of me in your heart, one filled with love and courage. Mirah, who has been a sister to me, has agreed to safeguard you if the darkness I fear indeed falls upon us. She has her own precious daughter, your cousin Callene, who no doubt carries the same resilient spirit as us. Love them, learn from them, stand with them. They will be your harbor in any storm.
Time is fleeting, my love, and as mine draws to a close, there is a part of your story that I must reluctantly share. It's about your father, Kayla. Your origins are interwoven with a man who is not as noble as I wish he could be. He is a man consumed by his own darkness, possessed by his greed, capable of acts that would make even the fiercest Ancient quail. I say this not to fill your heart with dread but to quench the flame of curiosity that I know too well could lead you down dangerous paths should it be fed within you.
Kayla, my sweetest love, heed this plea from a mother to her daughter:
Do not seek out your father.
There is a tumult within him, a maelstrom of emotions that is too dangerous to approach. I implore you — seek your answers from those that love you. Trust in the love that Mirah, Callene, and I have for you, and let that guide your path.
I apologize for the somber tone these last lines have taken. It was never my wish to cast a shadow over your spirit, but I had to speak the truth, however bleak. Always remember, you are Kayla Valensra, my hope, my legacy, the radiant dawn born of a somber night.
I hope you live each day in the greatest of happiness, that this letter sits unopened on a dusty shelf as I tell you of all my undue concerns, that at each meal, we might laugh at your mother's irrational fears. I ache to be there as you grow tired of my overprotective nature, my eternal presence, my overflowing love.
I love you, Kayla. Yesterday, today, and all the tomorrows that I may not see. Forever, you carry my heart.
Your mother,
Kaysta
Comments