Each letter was addressed to me and my husband, detailing parts of her life we knew nothing about. She wrote about her struggles at school, the bullying she faced from classmates, and how she felt overwhelmed by the expectations placed upon her. She spoke of her dreams and aspirations, and how she often felt like she was living in a world that didn’t understand her.

Tears streamed down my face as I realized how much pain she had been in, pain that she had hidden from us so well. My heart ached with the knowledge that I hadn’t been able to protect her from her own demons. But amidst the letters of pain and struggle, there were also glimmers of hope. She wrote about moments of happiness, about her friends who made her laugh, and about her love for us, despite everything.