My 10-Year-Old Son Started Acting Strange—One Night, I Woke up and Realized He and His Stepfather Were Gone

Lena stood at the edge of the pier, the salty wind tangling her hair, her gaze lost on the horizon. It had been three years since Ethan left for his job overseas, and with every passing day, the space between them seemed to stretch farther. The letters had stopped a few months ago, and she had almost convinced herself that he was gone for good.

But today, the old leather-bound box sat in front of her, its contents weighed down by memories. Inside were every letter he’d ever written to her — the ones she’d never quite been able to part with.

She picked up one, the first one he sent when he left. She hadn’t opened it in so long, but now the paper felt like it held a heartbeat of its own. She unfolded it carefully.

“Lena,” the letter began, “If you’re reading this, I’m already halfway across the world. I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye in person, but my heart is still with you. I’ve always loved you, even when I couldn’t be there.”

Lena closed her eyes. Her fingers traced the familiar words, and she remembered the days when it felt like Ethan’s love was a constant, something she could count on.

“I know it’s hard, but we’ll find our way back to each other. I believe that.”

She folded the letter back up slowly, and for the first time in months, a smile crept across her face.

A sudden sound broke her thoughts. She turned around. A figure stood in the distance, silhouetted against the setting sun, walking toward her.

Lena’s heart stopped. Could it really be him?

As the figure drew closer, she saw the familiar twinkle in his eyes. Ethan. He was back.

“Lena,” he said softly, almost out of breath.

She didn’t speak. Instead, she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck, tears spilling from her eyes.

“I thought you were gone,” she whispered.

Ethan smiled, brushing the tears away gently. “I promised I’d come back, didn’t I?”

Lena nodded, the weight of the past three years lifting from her chest.

“You’re not too late,” she whispered, holding him tighter. “You’re just in time.”