75. Letter to Cori
Letter to Cori
Dear Corinthians,
As I sit here and watch you sleep, I find myself understanding what love is in ways that I never thought possible.
Seeing you hold this baby in your arms and knowing that you are the reason he is here is a joy that I can't put into words. I know that your past scares you; I know that it plays in your head. You may question who you are, who you are supposed to become, but most importantly, who you could’ve been.
The little girl I met all those years ago would be proud of you.
If she could see you right now, she would see that she made it.
That what she has gone through and what she will go through are only a small part of her story.
And what a story it will be.
You are magic, pure to the world despite the pain you’ve endured.
I wish I could take back every tear, scream, and every ounce of fear you’ve ever had.
I wish that the only tears that fell from your eyes were from laughing.
That you only screamed because of you. That you were never introduced to fear.
My heart beats for you in a way that it will never beat for anyone else. The only time my heart ever beats correctly is when I’m with you. I feel the moment it falls into rhythm with yours.
Cori, I know I’m asking the impossible by asking you to love me.
I know what Robert did to you. I know that being his son is my burden to bear, that the seeds of pain that he has planted in you are rooted so deeply that it probably feels like you’ll never flourish.
I’m telling you right now that you can and will.
You are! I’m sitting here watching you prevail in a way that is not only magical, but also inspiring.
That’s right, Cori, you are inspiring.
You inspire me to be the best man I can be. You inspire me to want more out of my life than I have been given. You inspire me to look at what's in front of me and want more.
I want to make you an offer; one I want you to really consider.
Are you ready?
I want us to try. I can't be a stranger.
I can't watch you love another man. I can't see you be another man's wife. I’m asking you to let me love you beyond the stars. I’m asking you to look for me the way I look for you. I memorized your face in every phase of your life; I want to continue to do so until my eyes close forever. I want to hold your hand and interlace our fingers. I want long days and longer nights. I want to love you in ways that defy the odds, yet we don’t question it.
I want kids with you. I want Judah to be a big brother to a little girl with your eyes and smile mixed with my nose and ears.
A little boy with my eyes but your hair and skin tone.
I want to get lost in the people we’ve created and know that they are the best of us in ways beyond the physical.
Kids who are smart, kind, and passionate about living their best lives.
Kids who will test the limits but know that we will be there to guide them.
I want to sit in corners with you and watch the sunset.
I want to cook dinner after a long day of work.
I want to hear the stories of your clients.
On random days, I want to come into your shop and just chill.
I want to help you build your business. I want to retire you before you even have to think about it.
You’ve fought enough; I want you to be in your soft girl era.
I can see us living a life so full of love that you will never have to remember a time without it. Our love would be stronger than the seeds Robert planted.
I know I’ve mentioned all my wants.
But what do you want, Cori? Can you see all those things with me? If so, the next time we see each other, let’s not be strangers.
Can we do that? Can we love each other?
Please say yes.
Uri ‘Four’ Strong