Leaving her dream of becoming a lawyer behind, Nancy, the only child of her parents, got married at the age of 21. She harboured hopes for a happy life with her husband, Peter, but unfortunately, her relationship was nothing less than a nightmare.
After returning home from work every evening, Peter would drink heavily and create a ruckus. One night, when Nancy served dinner, Peter, who had already finished half a bottle of whisky, got so enraged that he threw the plate in the air and pushed her. “You are worthless! You can’t even cook a nice meal!” He shouted in his drunken rage. Visually shaken and devastated, Nancy felt that she couldn’t bear this torture anymore. Later that night when Peter passed out after drinking, Nancy mustered the strength to escape.
She headed back to her family home where her brother David and his wife Angela lived. Although Nancy had informed them about her return, they didn’t seem too pleased to see her. She took her bag and went to her room where she had spent her life before getting married. To her surprise, everything looked unfamiliar to her—the cupboard with her toys and books was removed, and even her bed was gone. Nancy broke down into tears and rushed to her father’s room, who had passed away a few years ago, and opened his cupboard to find all her belongings neatly arranged on the bottom shelf.
She came across a diary and flipped through the pages filled with her father’s handwriting. She discovered a letter that he wrote a day before he had passed away.
“Dear Nancy,
I hope you are doing well. The last time I saw you, I felt that you were not happy. Although you tried to conceal your sadness with a smile, I noticed your pain. I did not say anything but made peace with the fact that my little girl is all grown-up and is very strong. Nancy, I want you to know that I am very proud of you. But remember that you don’t have to sacrifice your happiness to make others happy. My only regret is that you didn’t pursue your dream of becoming a lawyer. It’s not too late, my child. You can still do it. I have complete faith in you.
I hope to see you soon. Stay well my dear and take care of your family.
Your papa”
Nancy was dazed. She felt as if her father was sitting next to her and saying those words. Her tears turned into determination as she gazed at his photograph on the wall and said, “Thank you, papa. I will not let you down.”
Ten years have passed since then. Today, Nancy is a successful lawyer and has a big office where she deals with several clients daily. Every morning, before starting work, she takes out her father’s diary and reads the letter that changed her life.