To My Forever Family

Dear Mom, Dad, and my four big brothers,

I don’t think I’ll ever truly find the words to capture the depth of my gratitude, but I want to try. When I look back on my life and imagine what it might have been without you, I feel a wave of both sorrow and relief—the sorrow of what could have been, and the overwhelming relief of what actually is. Because of you, my story was rewritten into one of safety, joy, and love. Because of you, I got to grow up knowing what it feels like to belong.

Mom, you have been my safe place from the very beginning. I remember the way you made me feel welcome with just a smile, the way you held me with patience and steadiness until I realized I could trust you completely. You’ve been my comfort in hard moments and my encouragement in every new step. You’ve taught me what unconditional love looks like—not with big speeches, but with daily actions: a warm meal, a listening ear, a gentle hug when I didn’t even know I needed one. Because of you, I know what it feels like to have a mother’s love, something I once thought I might never have.

Dad, you’ve been my protector and my guide. You never tried to erase my past or pretend it didn’t exist—you simply showed me a future worth hoping for. You’ve been steady, strong, and kind, teaching me lessons about courage and responsibility, but also about gentleness and patience. I will always be grateful for the countless little things: the times you waited up for me, the advice you gave when I was unsure of myself, and the way you have always, without fail, reminded me that I am yours, no matter what.

And to my brothers—you might never know the full impact you’ve had on me. You weren’t just my siblings, you became my protectors, my partners in laughter, and my proof that I was truly part of this family. You included me, teased me, defended me, and taught me so much just by being yourselves. Each of you gave me a different kind of love: one of you always making me laugh, another looking out for me like a guardian, another showing me what hard work and determination mean, and another reminding me that it’s okay to just be myself. With four of you surrounding me, I never once felt small or unwanted—I felt like the luckiest person alive to have such a team on my side.

Because of all of you—Mom, Dad, and my brothers—my life is filled with memories I will carry forever. Memories of laughter around the dinner table, of car rides filled with silly songs, of being cheered on from the sidelines, of hugs that made the world feel safe again. You didn’t just give me a home, you gave me a foundation to stand on, and a sense of self I never would have found without your love.

I often think about the word “family” and how people define it. Some say it’s about blood, others say it’s about shared history. But I’ve learned, through all of you, that family is about choice. You chose me. You chose to open your hearts and your lives to me, and because of that choice, I grew up surrounded by love instead of fear, with hope instead of despair. That choice changed everything.

There’s no way to repay what you’ve given me. But I can promise you this: I will always carry your love in everything I do. I will honor the gift of this life you’ve made possible for me. I will keep building a future that reflects the strength, compassion, and joy you poured into me. And I will never stop being grateful—for every single one of you, for every hug, every laugh, every lesson, and every moment of belonging you gave me.

Thank you for saving me. Thank you for seeing me, choosing me, and loving me into the person I am today. Thank you for being my forever family, the ones I will always return to, no matter where life takes me.

With all my heart and all my love,

Forever, your daughter