Found an old letter I wrote to my dad 20 years ago, hidden in a book

I was cleaning out my parents' attic last weekend and found a letter I wrote to my dad when I was 16, tucked inside a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird." In it I was apologizing for wrecking his car, but I never gave it to him because I was too scared. Has anyone else stumbled across a message they completely forgot they wrote?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.kim1mo ago

Isn't it funny how we hide our biggest apologies until the moment passes for good?

samk771mo ago

Man, that hits way too close to home. I literally have a draft apology text from three years ago saved in my phone for a friend I haven't talked to since 2021. Like, what am I even waiting for at this point? I think we convince ourselves there will be a "perfect moment" where the words just flow out, but really we're just scared of the awkwardness or rejection. It's almost easier to let the silence grow than to admit we messed up, which is insane when you think about it. My therapist would have a field day with this whole thread, honestly.

jana8811mo ago

Three years is wild (and also kind of impressive, not gonna lie). @ward.kim is spot on though, we just let the "right moment" slip by until it's way too late and the silence feels louder than the apology ever could.