Heart

24/05/2016

To: my dear darling daughter

There was a kid named John Little.

He had blue eyes and curly brown hair. Very curly, mind you. His mum used to nag at him constantly about getting it cut (he always grew it out, you see). His dad worked as a car mechanic so he used to come home with dirty clothes and very dirty shoes. There used to be shoe tracks all over the house floor but John would help his mum clean that up for two pennies a day. His dad had lots of interesting stories to tell of things that happened at the garage which made John dream of working there one day too. Their house wasn’t big, nothing fancy, a small little cottage house with an old roof that needed repairs here and there and a bright red front door. John loved that front door; everyone else in their little neighbourhood had brown doors. He did go to school but it wasn’t great fun. Sometimes, when they were in a bit of a pickle, John had to go to school with holes in his shoes and tatty clothes (he was always climbing trees). John was a bit of a loner too. Nobody at school liked him much because he was the kid who liked to wander off alone most of the time to make mud pies, talk to frogs and climb up trees to birds’ nests. He didn’t mind for most of his childhood though. Things like playing with animals, going fishing with his dad and his mum’s blueberry pies were his greatest pleasures.

However, things changed when John turned 16.

His dad passed away which left him and his mum to fend for themselves. That was hard. John’s mum had to work so he rarely got to see her anymore. Certainly not happy anyway. She worked long hours, came home tired and sad, checked on him as he slept then went to bed after a small dinner. He worked really hard to keep the home clean every day for her, made all the dinners and got a job at the garage. Luckily his dad’s boss had pitied him and with a deep respect for his father had given him a job (even though he was terrible at it). Of course, being terrible at it, he was fired eventually and had to look for another one. He worked in and out of cafes until at the age of 19 he decided to start his own pet daycare business ‘The Petcoaster’. That was quite the adventure. He charged measly rates at first, overworked himself and almost quit from the pressure but his business eventually grew popular and things worked out for him (phew). Besides, he was still absolutely crazy for animals and getting to spend every day with them was great fun. His mum retired, they moved to the city, and John relaxed. Life was pretty good.

Then his mum died suddenly. 

She’d been too tired and broken to live on. His mum had been a strong woman. For sure. Always strong. Life’s tough blows finally got through though. John struggled for a really long time mentally after her death. She had been the greatest mother alive to him. He’d cherished her, and moreover, her strength. He’d have struggled monumentally after his dad’s passing if it hadn’t been for her.

His business went downhill after that and John found himself scrubbing dishes in a rundown restaurant while living in a hostel.

Fortunately, one very sunny afternoon while he was thinking about the egg and bacon roll he’d just had during his walk home, he bumped into someone far too carelessly (far, far too carelessly) which made her coffee spill onto her teal top (oops). He would've apologised if he had not immediately left earth after locking eyes with her. She had really, really blue eyes that day. Anyways, he did manage to apologize eventually (especially after she snapped at him) and also managed to score a coffee date (which was pretty crazy). John knew that he was going to marry that woman the day that they met for coffee (maybe it was something to do with how she put up with him talking about burgers for a full forty minutes at first while he was nervous). Well, he did. He proposed to her four weeks later as they stood by a lake at 6 o’ clock on a Friday. He would later find out that she had a rather sharp temper, loved to have a warm salted pretzel every single day and was far too fond of ducks (which is why she and John have 17 ducks in their house right now). She was the brightest ray of sunshine in his life, his Melissa. John got a great job, rented an apartment for them and things began to really turn around for him. His wife got pregnant after a year and John looked forward to welcoming another wonderful ray of sunshine into his life.

9 months later they welcomed the most beautiful baby girl into their home.

John fell in love immediately. She had her mother’s blue eyes, the cutest smile and the funniest laugh. They named her Luna Little (cute name, isn’t it?) and the next 9 years with his Luna Little were the best of his life. They did everything together. They fished, they hiked, they helped rescue birds and ducks (with her mother, of course), they went on a ton of picnics, built innumerable sandcastles and even went sailing. He tried his best to teach her some of the most crucial lessons of her life, helped her to start learning independence and did everything in his power to keep her safe, comfortable and happy. 

Until his little princess turned 9. His whole world turned upside down. 

Congenital artery disease. 

His Luna Little’s heart couldn’t keep her alive anymore. Not for long. 

He’d miss seeing her go to High School, seeing her turn 16, 18, 21. Wish her luck at her first job. Watch her take her first flight. Walk her down the aisle.

Luna Little, my dear Luna Little.

John Little couldn’t save his father and he couldn’t save his mother.

But I’m so glad that I could save you, Lou-Lou. I love you.

See you someday, sweetheart.

With all my love,

Daddy

P.S. Take good care of my heart.

P.S.S And your mother.