The mansion was quieter now.
Not because it lacked laughter—but because the laughter came from deeper voices and taller frames. Elio had grown into a version of Zayden that sometimes startled even him. Liora, graceful and bold, had Elena's fire burning in her eyes.
And today... they turned sixteen.
He watched from the kitchen archway as Liora teased Elio over a gift from a girl he clearly liked, and Elio retorted with something about Liora's "secret boyfriend," both of them turning red, both of them pretending they weren't in love for the first time in their lives.
Zayden smiled softly, clutching a sealed envelope in his hand.
Later that night, after the celebration and the cake and the lanterns floated in Elena's memory, he went to his study. The mahogany desk still held her photo, surrounded by little drawings Liora made of her "mom in heaven." A blue ribbon from Elio's first sports match. A faded letter Zayden once wrote on their first anniversary without her.
He sat down, picked up his pen, and began.
---
Letter to Elena – Year 16
My Lena,
They're sixteen today.
Can you believe it? I remember the day we brought them home, how terrified you were of dropping them. How you cried that night because you thought you'd never be enough for them. You were. You still are.
Elio is... stubborn. Like me. But he's thoughtful, patient—he thinks before he speaks, unlike me. And today, he asked me if it was okay to go out with a girl. My chest cracked a little. Because I wanted to call you and scream, "Your son is dating!" But all I could do was smile and tell him, "Yes. Be gentle. Be kind."
Liora... you would be so proud. She's fierce, unapologetic, already threatening board members with her sharp tongue during mock presentations. She's dating too. Some quiet boy from her class who brings her strawberry cupcakes and makes her laugh like you used to.
I should be scared. But I'm not. Because you live in them. Every day. Every glance. Every fight. Every smile.
I've started training them for the company, just like we always talked about. I bring them to the office. I let them sit in meetings. Elio takes notes. Liora argues with the CFO. It's chaos—and you'd laugh your heart out watching it.
I tell them stories about you. Every night.
They ask questions sometimes: "Did Mom ever get scared?"
I tell them the truth: "Yes. But she always fought anyway."
I miss you. That hasn't changed.
But now... it's not the kind of missing that suffocates me. It's the kind that feels like a shadow I walk with—quiet, constant, comforting.
You would've been the best mom to two teenagers in love. You'd have teased them. You'd have baked cakes and given the talk way better than I ever could.
God, Lena... I hope you're watching. I hope you see how much of you lives on.
I'll keep training them. I'll keep building them into the leaders you and I dreamed they'd be.
And when they finally take the company—your company—I'll sit in the back row, proud and quiet, and I'll whisper to you in my heart:
"We did it, baby. We really did."
Yours. Still. Always.
Zay