Hey there. Grace Givens here. I'm not sure who's going to read this story of what happened to me recently but I had to write it down. I'm actually not even sure if what I'm about to write down actually really happened to me. I think it might've been a dream. Or it might have been a higher plane of reality speaking to me through a dream. I'm really not sure. All I know for sure is that recently I've been thinking a lot about my parents. I've been wondering who they were and what could've led to them to abandoning me like they did. I remember praying one night before bed for some sort of answer; some sort of message that could tell me what really happened. Then I started to doze off and dream… or… I was sent somewhere. I'm not sure where I was sent. My memory of the location is a complete haze but I remember it was very bright. Then a young girl appeared in front of me wearing a full bright white robe. I looked at her and I immediately said…

Hey there you. I'm Grace Givens. What is this place? Who you are? How did I get here?

I know who you are Grace. And don't worry. You're in a safe place. I am a messenger. A messenger of the One who has great power, who has brought you here because He wants to help you.

Who are you talking about? And what kind of help do you mean?

I am referring to the One that knows you, and knows your prayers. And He has a message for me to bring you.

Look. I don't think I need to listen to some strange girl in a white robe that claims to have a message for me.

The message that I bring… comes from your mother.

What… How!? Why? How is this… I mean… How could you have a message from my mother?

The how is due to the power of He who sent me. The why is because for years, your mother has prayed for He who sent me to find a way to send you this message. And now… I finally give it to you…

So here's what happened right after the strange girl in the white robe said that. She gave me a piece of paper that looked like it had some kind of letter written on it. But when I looked at the paper, I saw more than words. I could see her. I saw my mother. She had the same hair color as me and her eyes reminded me of whenever I see myself in the mirror. She looked so pretty. But she also looked so sad. I could see her sitting down at a desk writing the very letter I was holding as tears were in her eyes. As I continued to look at the letter, I could see the written words and hear her own voice say…

Hello there Grace. This is your mother. For a short time you were in my life… and then you weren't… because I decided it to be. Ever since I abandoned you after running away from that hospital you were born in, I keep wondering every day how you turned out. Did they send you to a good home or some kind of nice orphanage? Did your life turn out better because I wasn't in it… or did it become worse? I don't know.

But I also keep wondering: if I had kept you, would you have grown up to hate me more than you might now? Had you grown up with me, would you have been mad or upset at me for not having a father in your life? Because you wouldn't have had one by the way. Because he ran off from us before you were born. Because I wasn't smart enough to have truly known the man that I gave myself completely to. Would you have hated for me for not preparing myself to be a mother before you were born? Would you have forgiven me for allowing the miracle of your birth to be tied to the most tragic mistake I had ever made in my life?

To be honest though, I was scared. I was scared of the life I was going to force you to be born into. You would have had only one parent, and on top of that: one parent who couldn't provide for you the amazing life you'd deserve. Maybe my real problem was I was upset I couldn't give you the life that I had received. I had the most ideal life growing up. I had a mother and a father who loved me so much and were ready to be parents when I was born. They created the most ideal situation for me to be born into. And I wanted that for you. And it killed me inside that I wouldn't be able to provide for you the same things that they had provided me. But is quality of life more important than life itself?

Or maybe I was scared of how people would view me. Maybe I couldn't stand the idea of people looking at me as the un-prepared mother who was stupid enough to become a parent before she was truly ready. The idea of people looking down at me killed me inside. The disappointment in my friends and family member's faces. The terrible things they'd all say about me. The way my reputation would be ruined and… Oh God. Did I abandon you because I was selfish?

I hate myself every day not just for what I did to you; but what I was thinking during the short time I did have you. The entire time you were inside of me, I just kept thinking about all of inconveniences you would bring to my life. But now I realize that by giving you up, I had given up the greatest thing to ever come into my life. And your life… Oh God, I'm sorry but… it took me so long to realize it but your life is so precious. The life of any one person is precious. And I am so sorry that I didn't see that in you so long ago. I don't know if you'll ever read these words, but if one day you do… if it's possible… could you please… forgive me? With love… your mommy.

The message is complete. Will you be okay Grace?

I… Oh my. I… I never knew. I never realized that she… Messenger, please tell me. My mother… where can I find her? Where does she live? Can I…

There is no way you can find her. She indeed wrote that message some time ago. However… she can no longer write you anymore messages on Earth because… she no longer is alive on Earth.

You mean… oh God. You mean I'll never get to meet my mother. I'll never be able to just sit down, get to speak with her, and give her the answer to her final question she wrote me?

Correct. You will never be able to speak to her in your present life. However… I am a messenger. And I can send messages to and from beyond even Earth. And if you'd like, I can send a message from you to your mother who is in a far better place now.

You… you can do that? Thank you, thank you so much. I just need something to write with.

That can be provided. But before you write your message… I have a favor to ask of you.

Wait… you have a favor to ask of me?

I cannot appear to just anyone on Earth when I desire. That is controlled by He who sent me. But since you know an individual who I wish to contact there… could you… please deliver a message to them on my behalf?

Well if you're willing to deliver an important message for me… then I'm more than willing to help deliver a message for you.

So I wrote the message that I wanted to write and gave it to the messenger. The messenger then gave me a sealed envelope with her own message that she had written. Then she said goodbye to me. Suddenly I found myself laying on my bed in my room. I couldn't tell if everything I had just experienced had been real or just a dream. But then I discovered the sealed envelope that the messenger had given me under my pillow. I guess some other kid in the orphanage could have put it there. But I hope with every fiber of my being that it was real. Because if it was… then it means some very important messages should be getting delivered today. But anyway, that's the end of my really long story. I've really gotta get going to before care to see Miss Maya now. I can't wait to see her today. Anyway, thanks to anyone who took the time to read my story. This is Grace Givens, signing out…

MEANWHILE… Somewhere Beyond Time and Space: A Different Story Was Being Written by A Different Person:

Despite being in a place of perfect paradise now, I was still nervous. I wish I could have seen her myself. But if I did, would she have spent the entire time looking at me with eyes of hate? Would she have wanted to hear any word of what I wished to say? Then the messenger appeared before me. I immediately looked at her and asked what happened. The messenger smiled and handed me a note. One simple note. I opened the paper and I didn't just see the words. I saw her face. I saw the face of my daughter. I saw Grace. And I saw her say the words… Dear Mom. I forgive you. Love Grace. I fell to the ground as tears entered my eyes. I looked at the messenger and said thank you to her for delivering my message. The messenger smiled and then said to me: And thank you for your daughter. Because thanks to her… a message that I've wanted to deliver for some time, will finally be received now.

Epilogue Scene:

-The door to a hospital room opened as Maya walked in with a bag in her hand. Maya then sat in a chair that was right next to the bed where Riley was laying. Riley's eyes were still closed as she had several tubes and wires connected to both her body and a machine near her. Maya then sat next to Riley and gently grabbed one of Riley's hands with her own.

Maya: Hey Riley. Boy, have I got a story for you. One of my students: Grace came into before care today and she told me about a very interesting dream she had last night. Or maybe it was more than a dream. She said she dreamt of some messenger from beyond giving her a message from her mother who had abandoned her years ago, and… according to Grace, the message she received from her mother said that she regretted what she did because she eventually realized… how every life is so precious. And hearing that story only reminded me of how your life is so precious to me, and how happy I am that we were able to spend as much as time as we could with the life of our daughter. But then… I discovered that life isn't just precious… it's powerful as well.

-Maya then took out from her bag a piece of paper as she continued to speak.

Maya: Because somehow… this made it into my hands today. It was given to me in an envelope and… I don't know how it's possible and yet… everything inside me says it's her handwriting. I don't know how this happened but… she's watching over us now, and will always continue to love us… because we loved her.

-Maya then held right in front of Riley's face a picture that showed a simple drawing of herself, Riley, and little baby sitting together; and under the picture was a simple message that said: Thank you for the amazing life you gave me. Love Erika.

Riley: You're welcome sweety.

-Maya's eyes widened as she looked at Riley's face. Riley's eyes and mouth had just opened up as she spoke.

Maya: Riley?

Riley: That's nice that she was able to write us a letter. I always preferred those to e-mails and text messages.

-A huge smile suddenly went across Maya's face.

Maya: Riley, you're awake! You're finally awake! Don't get up honey. I have to tell a doctor. But… how is that you…

Riley: It's like you said. Life isn't just precious… it's powerful as well.

END OF CHAPTER 8

Upcoming Chapters For the Series:

-Chapter 8: New Good Days (Coming 5/9)

-Chapter 9: Happy Mother's Day (Coming 5/11)

-Chapter 10: Finally Home (Coming 5/13)