A little girl let go of her balloon at the cemetery.
“It’s for my brother in heaven,” she whispered.
Three days later, a balloon showed up at her doorstep.
Same color.
Same ribbon.
Same name tag.
And a note attached:
“I got it. Happy birthday, little sis.”Lily stared at the balloon on the doorstep, her small hand clutched in her mother’s as they stood in stunned silence.
Her mother bent down slowly, picking it up with shaking fingers.
Same color.
Same ribbon.
Same smudged handwriting on the name tag Lily had written just days ago.
But now, there was something new:
A note. Folded neatly. Tied with twine.
With wide eyes, Lily opened it.
“I got it. Happy birthday, little sis. I miss you too.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t fully understand how or why… but she smiled.
“Mommy… do you think he really got it?”
Her mother knelt beside her, trying to steady her voice.
“I don’t know, baby,” she said softly. “But maybe… maybe someone helped him send it back.”
That night, Lily placed the balloon beside her bed.
She talked to it like she used to talk to her brother before he got sick — about school, her new shoes, how she still had his old dinosaur drawing in her backpack.
The next morning, she woke up to find a second note, taped to her windowsill.
“You’re so brave. I see you every day. Keep smiling — I’m still right here.”
Then the Letters Kept Coming
Once a week, another note appeared.
Never with footprints. Never with a sound.
Just messages. Gentle reminders.
“Tell Mom I love her.”
“You’re growing so fast.”
“The stars are pretty tonight — just like your drawings.”
Word spread across the town. People speculated — some called it a hoax, others called it a miracle.
But Lily didn’t care.
Because every message helped her feel just a little less alone.
Until One Final Note Arrived
One cool October morning, Lily opened her window to find one last red balloon.
This time, the note was different.
Longer.
Carefully written.
“My sweet Lily,
I’ve been sending these notes because I wanted you to know something important: I’m okay.
And you will be too.
It’s okay to smile again. It’s okay to laugh. I’ll always be your big brother — but now, you get to live for both of us.
You are the bravest person I know.
This will be my last note — but not the last time I’m with you. Just look up.
Love you always,
Jack”
Lily pressed the note to her heart, tears falling softly — not from pain this time, but from peace.
And that night, for the first time in a long time, she didn’t cry herself to sleep.
She looked up at the stars, smiled, and whispered:
“I got your note, Jack. I’ll be okay.”
