When my adult son passed in March 2019, life seemed to lose its color. The months that followed were filled with quiet moments, memories, and a longing that words could never capture. By December of that same year, I was still learning how to live with the emptiness.

One day, I received a message from a young woman my son had once mentored. She kindly asked for my address. I assumed she wanted to send a card, perhaps a note of remembrance, so I shared it with her. A week later, she reached out again, this time with something that surprised me deeply.

She revealed that my son’s encouragement had given her strength during a time of doubt, guiding her toward a brighter path. She wanted me to know that his kindness had left a mark that was still shaping her life for the better. Her words were more than just a message—they were proof that love can ripple outward, even when the person who shared it is no longer here.

At that moment, I realized something powerful: though my son’s time on earth had ended, his light continued to shine through the lives he had touched. It reminded me that the essence of who we are lives on in the kindness, guidance, and love we share with others.