My Dearest Daughter,
I watch you sleeping in this hospital bed, and I know that I have to tell you what I'm feeling and what is going on, again.
Your 'Uncles' Clay and Dashiell, and 'Aunt' Allison came by to see you earlier. They're as worried about you as I am. 'Uncle' Kenny is here now, along with Bree and Thomas. Even Ralph Pulaski, Courtney Krieger, and Wayne Sneeden showed up to check on you. I told you that the others on the base cared about you. You're very popular.
A lot of your friends have also shown up, and some of your teachers. They said that they would save your assignments and let you work on them when you get ready to. They will also help you if and when you need it.
I need to tell you about your mother and what happened when you were a small child. It's important.
Your mother, Kit, was one heck of a woman. We first met when I bumped into her at school. Our relationship started over a cup of coffee, and progressed from there.
The reason that you feel lonely sometimes, as if there is a part of you that is missing is because there is a part of you missing. You were born with a twin brother, E.J. I don't know if you remember, but you were two of a kind.
I was so happy when you two were born. I felt that my life was finally complete. I had a beautiful, intelligent wife, and two beautiful, wonderful children.
Ten years ago, when you were four, there was an accident. I don't know how much of it you remember, but it changed our lives completely.
You and E.J. had come down with a serious cold that was on the verge of turning into pneumonia. We took the pair of you to the pediatrician, and we were on our way back to the house, when a drunk driver hit us.
Your mother was killed instantly, her neck broken, and your twin brother was thrown out of the car when his car seat failed, and he was also killed. I had minor injuries, and you were seriously injured.
You had serious internal injuries where you had slammed into the seat belt. Your kidney had been split, and they had to do surgery on you to fix it. You got an infection a few days after the operation and they had to give you a round of powerful antibiotics.
There was some speculation about your being able to walk again as your spine had been sprung, to put it in terms that you can understand. You were in therapy to help you learn how to walk again, and you really surprised me. I never knew that such a young child would have that much determination. You never once gave up; even when I was ready to call it quits.
I wasn't really ready to be a single father of a daughter, but when this happened, I had to adapt. Audrey, you were such a trooper about it. You never once blamed me, even when I screwed up.
Once again I sit here and watch over you as you recover from being hit by a drunk driver. It brings up memories, and makes me again realize how precious that life is, and how important you are to me.
I love you so much. I love you for you, not for any other reason. Because you're my daughter. Even if you are paralyzed from here on out, I will still love you and cherish you.
I'll close this letter for now and write more later. Remember, A.J., that you will always be my baby girl and that I will always love you.
Your loving Father, Edwin Steen
I watch you sleeping in this hospital bed, and I know that I have to tell you what I'm feeling and what is going on, again.
Your 'Uncles' Clay and Dashiell, and 'Aunt' Allison came by to see you earlier. They're as worried about you as I am. 'Uncle' Kenny is here now, along with Bree and Thomas. Even Ralph Pulaski, Courtney Krieger, and Wayne Sneeden showed up to check on you. I told you that the others on the base cared about you. You're very popular.
A lot of your friends have also shown up, and some of your teachers. They said that they would save your assignments and let you work on them when you get ready to. They will also help you if and when you need it.
I need to tell you about your mother and what happened when you were a small child. It's important.
Your mother, Kit, was one heck of a woman. We first met when I bumped into her at school. Our relationship started over a cup of coffee, and progressed from there.
The reason that you feel lonely sometimes, as if there is a part of you that is missing is because there is a part of you missing. You were born with a twin brother, E.J. I don't know if you remember, but you were two of a kind.
I was so happy when you two were born. I felt that my life was finally complete. I had a beautiful, intelligent wife, and two beautiful, wonderful children.
Ten years ago, when you were four, there was an accident. I don't know how much of it you remember, but it changed our lives completely.
You and E.J. had come down with a serious cold that was on the verge of turning into pneumonia. We took the pair of you to the pediatrician, and we were on our way back to the house, when a drunk driver hit us.
Your mother was killed instantly, her neck broken, and your twin brother was thrown out of the car when his car seat failed, and he was also killed. I had minor injuries, and you were seriously injured.
You had serious internal injuries where you had slammed into the seat belt. Your kidney had been split, and they had to do surgery on you to fix it. You got an infection a few days after the operation and they had to give you a round of powerful antibiotics.
There was some speculation about your being able to walk again as your spine had been sprung, to put it in terms that you can understand. You were in therapy to help you learn how to walk again, and you really surprised me. I never knew that such a young child would have that much determination. You never once gave up; even when I was ready to call it quits.
I wasn't really ready to be a single father of a daughter, but when this happened, I had to adapt. Audrey, you were such a trooper about it. You never once blamed me, even when I screwed up.
Once again I sit here and watch over you as you recover from being hit by a drunk driver. It brings up memories, and makes me again realize how precious that life is, and how important you are to me.
I love you so much. I love you for you, not for any other reason. Because you're my daughter. Even if you are paralyzed from here on out, I will still love you and cherish you.
I'll close this letter for now and write more later. Remember, A.J., that you will always be my baby girl and that I will always love you.
Your loving Father, Edwin Steen