I took my daughter, terminally ill with stage 4 cancer, to get to know the ocean and fulfill her last wish, but then the hotel manager knocked on our door and said, “There’s something about this journey that you don’t know.”

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The lyrics belonged to the man who had abandoned us on the same day he learned of Emily’s illness.

Inside the box was the small silver music box that Mike, Emily’s father, had bought the day she was born.

Inside the lid were engraved these words:

“For our little miracle, with the love of mom and dad.”

The last time I had seen that music box had been three years ago, the day Mike left our home.

Emily took it and slowly turned the key. A soft melody and  family He filled the room.

“Is this mine?” he asked.

I couldn’t answer.

My hands were shaking while I opened the card.