I adopted a five-year-old girl I found wrapped in my late daughter’s jacket – years later, she handed me a note and said, “Your daughter asked me to give this to you today.”

years passed.

Ava grew taller, safer, louder. She joined choir. She baked badly and confidently. She still kept Lily’s jacket folded on the top shelf of her closet even after she outgrew it. I never asked her to give it up.

Then yesterday, Ava walked into the living room carrying that same jacket.

Sometimes I saw it there and felt both grateful and afraid.continue reading …