My name is Victoria Hayes. I'm 40 years old, and I'm the CEO of a company called Hayes Enterprises. But none of that matters. What matters is that I'm your mother, your birth mother, and I've loved you every single day since you were born. Lily's grip on Daniel's hand tightened.
I know you must have questions. Why did I give you up? Didn't I want you? Didn't I love you enough to keep you? Victoria's eyes glistened with tears.
The answer is complicated. I was 18 alone and my parents, your grandparents, gave me an impossible choice. I thought I was doing what was best for you. I thought you'd have a better life with a family who could provide for you. Love you.
Give you everything I couldn't. Victoria wiped her eyes. I was wrong. Not about you having a better life. I hope you did, but about what I could have given you.
I could have given you myself, my love, my time, my devotion. Instead, I gave you away and spent 15 years regretting it. on the screen. Victoria leaned forward as if she could see through the camera into Lily's eyes. But I never stopped searching for you. Every success I had, every dollar I earned, every mountain I climbed, I did it for you so that when I found you, I could give you the life I should have given you from the beginning.
Daniel glanced at Lily. Tears were streaming down her face. I don't know what your life has been like. I don't know if you're happy, if you're loved, if you've had a good childhood, but I want you to know that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I'm proud of you. I've been proud of you since the moment you were born." Victoria's voice broke.
The nurses thought I was crazy, you know, naming a baby I was giving away. But I couldn't let you go without giving you something of myself. So, I named you Lily, like the flower. Because lilies grow in the darkest places and still find a way to bloom. Lily gasped.
She named me Lily. She named you Lily. Daniel whispered on the screen. Victoria continued. If you're watching this, it means I'm gone.
It means I found you but never got to say these words to your face. And I'm so sorry for that. I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough sooner. I'm sorry I let fear keep me from you. I'm sorry for every birthday I missed, every scraped knee.
I wasn't there to bandage every nightmare I couldn't chase away. Victoria pressed her hand against her heart. But please know this, my love for you never wavered. Not for one second. You were the first thought I had every morning and the last thought I had every night.