After burying her eight-year-old daughter, Lily, Ashley returned home, consumed by grief. But something in her backyard pulled her out of her sorrow and into an unexpected mystery.
I thought I was ready to say goodbye, but I wasn’t. The pain was unbearable. Lily was gone, and I couldn’t imagine life without her.
It had only been a week since we laid her to rest. The days before her passing were a blur of hospital visits, whispered prayers, and the slow loss of her laughter. At her funeral, I drifted through, barely recognizing the faces around me, my heart heavy with grief.
As the mourners left, offering condolences, I could only focus on the empty chair where Lily should have been. The drive home was quiet. Silence seemed the only thing that matched the depth of my sorrow.
When I pulled into the driveway, something caught my eye—a brightly colored tent in the backyard. My heart raced. It looked like a circus tent, completely out of place. I got out of the car, my legs trembling. Who would put a tent in my yard, especially today?
As I approached, the wind rustled the flags on top of the tent. My heart pounded. I opened the flap of the tent and found something small, wrapped in a blanket. My stomach twisted, memories of Lily in the hospital flooding back.
Then, the bundle moved.
To my surprise, a tiny golden retriever puppy peeked out from the blanket, wearing a pink bow. I knelt down, stroking its soft fur, overwhelmed by confusion and emotion. My fingers brushed against an envelope tucked beneath the blanket. The handwriting was unmistakable—Lily’s.
Tears filled my eyes as I opened the envelope. Inside was a simple note from Lily.
“Dear Mommy,
I know you’re sad because I had to go to heaven. I asked Daddy to get you a puppy to help you smile. Her name is Daisy. Please take care of her for me. I love you.
Love, Lily.”
I collapsed, sobbing. Even in her last days, Lily had thought of me. Daisy was her final gift, a reminder that love continues, even in death.
Over the next days, Daisy became my companion, pulling me out of the fog of grief. Lily’s love would always be with me, guiding me through the darkest moments.
