At the start of summer vacation, Misaki visited her grandmother’s house for the first time in a long while. Her grandmother had passed away the previous winter, and the family had been slowly clearing out the house. However, the old bookshelves and wooden cabinets remained untouched.
“Misaki, could you help with that shelf?”
Nodding at her mother’s request, Misaki pulled open a wooden drawer. Inside, she found old envelopes, aged stationery, and a single letter—one that bore her name in delicate handwriting.
“A letter… from Grandma?”
Curious, she carefully opened the envelope. A soft, familiar scent of aged paper filled the air as she unfolded the letter and began to read.
“To Misaki,”
“By the time you read this, I will no longer be with you. But I hope my words will reach your heart.”
As she continued reading, warmth swelled in her chest. The letter was filled with her grandmother’s thoughts and feelings—about school, friendships, and even Misaki’s dreams for the future.
“Misaki, never be afraid to dream. As we grow older, we tend to search for reasons why we can’t do something. But you, my dear, have endless possibilities ahead of you. Even if you fail, each failure is a precious step toward growth.”
Tears welled up in Misaki’s eyes. She had always known her grandmother to be kind and gentle, but she never expected such strong, encouraging words from her.
At the end of the letter, her grandmother wrote:
“If you ever feel lost, go and look at the sunflowers in the garden. They always face the sun, standing tall and full of life. Like them, I hope you will keep moving forward, no matter what.”
After finishing the letter, Misaki stepped outside into the garden. There, the sunflowers her grandmother had planted stood in full bloom, their golden petals stretching toward the sky. As she gazed at them, she felt something shift inside her—like a gentle push forward.
“I’ll try harder.”
She whispered the words to herself, a quiet yet firm declaration.
That summer, inspired by her grandmother’s letter, Misaki took her first steps toward her dreams. She threw herself into her studies, determined to enter university, and became more vocal and confident at school. Every morning, the sunflowers in the garden reminded her of the strength she carried within.
Years later, as a university student, Misaki wore a pair of sunflower-shaped earrings.
A quiet tribute—to her grandmother, to the letter she had once held in her hands, and to the unwavering encouragement that had shaped her life.
Even now, her grandmother’s words remained in her heart, illuminating her path forward.
