Dear dad,
We have come a long way since we last spoke.
I hope you are doing well.

Myself,
I have two children,
a husband
and a dog.
My husband
baked me a raspberry pie
for my birthday
last week.
Giving that he can’t bake,
it was very delicious.

When was the last time you had raspberry pie?
Remember when mom baked you one
during thanksgiving
and you ate four slices
and then drank too much?

I was looking through some photos the other day.
There was one of you
and me.
I was nine years old.
You were smoking a cigarette
and I was crying.
All these years, I kept it,
can you believe that?

Sara is doing quite well.
I don’t know if she has written to you in a while,
but she is pregnant with a baby girl!
She wants to name it Alex.
But like you always say,
“Don’t go mainstream.”
I want her to name the baby Brazil.
It’s quite beautiful there.
I don’t know if you have been.

I haven’t said a word to mom in 2 years.
She became an alcoholic after you left.
She didn’t care about my children or husband
or Sara anymore.
In fact, I don’t even care if she joins you.

My kid, Dave, asked me yesterday,
“How come we’ve never met our grandpa?”
I told him that they might,
when they are very old.
But for now,
you, dad, are on vacation.

Daddy, I miss you.
I want you back.
My life is so lonely without you.
Even though
I expect you don’t want me to miss you,
you were my best friend.
Even now when you are gone,
there is still half a heart that belongs to you.
The rest of our family will have to do with only the other half.

Please stay strong.
Wait for me.
I love you with all my heart.

Your daughter,
Sammy