Kelly's Letter

She had not been expecting a letter. Certainly not one that thick. Who was Scott Alderman? It was addressed to her, Scott's neat handwriting displayed "To: Ms. Kelly Vargo" quite clearly. Did she have time to read it? She had the most important case of her career in a matter of hours. Important, as in she would be receiving more money than she had ever brought in and she needed it to pay for incidentals, such as electricity and rent.

Kelly's client, Spoiled Wife, was getting a divorce and asking for two million dollars for all the fictitious emotional pain that Workaholic Husband had caused her. Though Kelly, as a lawyer with unwavering principles and exemplary character, did not think Spoiled Wife deserved a penny, she rationalized that there were thousands of wives out there that were being misused and that this case would teach their husbands a lesson. She knew she would win this case and she had to push forward even though she sided with Workaholic Husband who really seemed to love his wife. Hunger outweighed principles at times; Kelly couldn't stop to feel remorseful.

She decided to take the time to read the letter since it could relate to her case. She sunk into a nearby chair after reading the first few sentences. It was from the man who had left Kelly, her two brothers and their mother, when she was only two. He explained that not a day had passed when he didn't see himself for the coward he was. He said he secretly snuck into some of Kelly's volleyball games and her brothers' soccer games just to see his kids. He included pictures to prove it. One was of Kelly in her blue and white volleyball uniform. She laughed at her silly hairdo; she remembered that day vividly. She was embarrassed that she didn't have a father so she found a random man in the bleachers and pretended he was her dad. Maybe he actually had been; after all, she didn't remember what her father looked like. She tried with no avail to recall the features of the man she'd seen at her game that day.

Kelly resented her father. Why was he contacting her now? A warm tear carried her mascara down her cheek. Why was she crying? She was angry with herself for caring, angry that she would have to apply more makeup on account of her deadbeat father. Yet, in all her fury with him she somehow could not put the letter down. She had to know what he wanted; she was convinced of an ulterior motive. All she found were profuse apologies and other words of regret.

"Kelly, I'm very ill now and thus knew that I could not put off writing this letter any longer..."

Ah hah! Now she knew his purpose. He probably wanted money from her. He was sick and needed medicine and care. Ha! He was crying on the wrong shoulder. As she turned the page of the letter, she noticed an envelope taped to the other side. Did he actually include an envelope for her to send him money? Kelly's heart hardened toward whatever he had to say next.

"I may never get to see you again, so please open this envelope. Know that I love you with all of my heart. It's not a very good heart and what I did to you was selfish and unforgiveable. I hope that somehow you can forgive me one day."

She opened the envelope and pulled out more cash than she had ever seen. The attached note explained that he had been saving it for her for a long time. He knew money could never repair the damage he had done, but he hoped that Kelly and her family could use it now.

Kelly could not stop the emotions that were warring with each other: anger, joy, resentment and peace. She knew she had to forgive him, but she didn't want to. Before her mother passed away, she asked Kelly to forgive her father; Kelly had promised that she would. It was time. If her mother could forgive him for leaving her with three small children, then so could she.

Kelly glanced down at her watch and nearly cursed. She now only had one hour until she was due at the courthouse. She rushed like never before because she had a new purpose in getting to the courtroom. Both Spoiled wife and her husband agreed to Kelly's irregular request to talk with them before they went in to see the judge.

"Forgiveness is not only for the other person, it is for you too. When you don't forgive, bitterness builds up inside and eats away at you. Instead of hurting the person that hurt you, you unleash destructive forces in your life." Kelly was near tears as she spoke.

"What does all of this have to do with us?" Spoiled Wife asked.

"You haven't forgiven each other for the wrongs that you have both done. This isn't about money. You need each other's love. You, as the husband need to cut down on work and invest more time in your wife. You, as the wife need to understand that your husband works because he loves you and wants to provide for you." Kelly said. She explained the story of her father and showed them the letter. She explained that his love was all she wanted her whole life and that she had turned into a bitter person because she couldn't forgive and let go of past hurts.

"Would you two at least be willing to try?" Kelly asked.

Tears were forming in everyone's eyes as Forgiving Wife and Loving Husband nodded "yes". They would try. Kelly felt peace. Her father was forgiven and she actually desired to pursue a relationship with him. She had not been expecting a letter, but she was glad her father had the strength to send it.