CHAPTER 58
Elizabeth was walking home after a long day's work as a teacher. The evening light bathed the city, creating soft shadows on the streets. As she opened the door, she noticed an atmosphere charged with emotion.
Little Jack was asleep in his crib, while Alien was in her room, staring at a piece of paper with tears streaming down her face. Elizabeth felt a mixture of concern and recognition. She approached silently, watching her daughter relive emotions that she herself knew all too well.
- Alien, darling, what's happening? Elizabeth asked softly, touching her daughter's shoulder.
Alien, surprised, dried her tears and looked into her mother's eyes...
- It's just... it's hard, Mom... murmured Alien, trying to smile despite her obvious sadness. Elizabeth sat down next to her, realizing that something deeper was going on.
- I know, darling, I know what it's like... Did you write a letter? Elizabeth asked, noticing the paper in front of Alien. A silent nod was the answer.
Elizabeth recalled the times when, as a young girl, she herself had written letters to Jack during her stay in the Northern Territories.
Each word was a bridge over the distance, an attempt to overcome the longing that squeezed her heart. It was like reliving her own past through her daughter's eyes.
- Sometimes words are all we have to face the distance. You miss him, don't you? Elizabeth asked, enveloping Alien in a loving embrace. Alien nodded, the tears flowing again.
Elizabeth shared her story of her own time of waiting, a painful year and many nights in which words were a solace, a connection with her distant loved one.
- Alien! Longing is part of love, but love is also the force that sustains us. Back then, I discovered that Jack always came back, and that made every letter worthwhile.
Mother and daughter shared memories, tears and laughter, while Elizabeth offered words of comfort and wisdom. She knew that the pain of distance was a journey that shaped the heart, but she also understood... that in the end, the reunion made every moment of waiting more meaningful.
- Alien, darling... love is stronger than distance. I'll tell you something, my child... Jack always came back to me, just as his beloved had. Don't let longing obscure the joy of what you share. Write your letters, let your emotions flow, but never doubt the power of the love that unites you. When love is true, it overcomes all obstacles.
Elizabeth hugged her daughter, and there she let all the tears fall until she felt better. She knew what the pain of distance was, but also the strength of the love she felt.