No matter where she went she realized the man would follow her. She never paid it much mind and just thought it was a nice coincidence. But she’d eventually realize it was all part of his plan.
Her father knew about him and told her to avoid him. But she decided that she would use her own judgment. But she had no idea what secrets were kept from her.
Kelly Miao was an only child whose mother passed away when she was 6 years old. This meant that her whole life her father raised her. They were very close and had an amazing relationship. Now she was 34-years-old.
She loved her father dearly. He was a compassionate man who always treated her right. In her eyes, he was her hero. But he had a family secret that he had never told her.
Kelly first noticed the vendor near the school she attended when she was 5-years-old. She always could smell his desserts from when she entered the gates.
She made her way to the street vendor and looked at the man behind the counter. He smiled a familiar smile, but she had no idea that it was no coincidence.
The vendor would stay right by her elementary school the entire time she attended the school. He sold amazing pancakes and other sweets that parents and students alike couldn’t resist.
But Kelly’s father forbid her from getting anything from the man. He said that it was unhygienic. If only she knew that there was more to it than just that.
Kelly studied hard so after graduating high school with flying colors she went into college. There were many changes but one thing stayed the same that she could never have expected.
No matter where she went the street vendor from her elementary school followed. The same man she’d seen for years outside her school since she was 5.
The man was always happy to see her every time she saw him. He always had a smile on his face. They got closer and became friends. But her father wouldn’t be so impressed.
He shouted at her telling her that he didn’t want her to talk to him anymore. She couldn’t understand why and he wouldn’t give her a legitimate reason.
He was vague in his reasons and just said that the man wasn’t who he appeared to be. She now understood that her father held a grudge against the man.
Kelly wouldn’t pry any futher. She knew her father and he wouldn’t budge if she pestered him. But she still decided to keep talking to the vendor.
She used her own judgement and decided to keep the strange friendship alive with the vendor. He was so kind to her, how could he be a bad man? She even invited him to her wedding but he politely declined.
But he surprised her by standing at the doors to the reception in a suit. She could tell he wanted to watch her from a distance. But then something terrible happened.
Kelly’s father passed in his sleep at 94. He had lived a good life and was a good father. But Kelly was beyond grief-stricken
She started going through his things and found a note from him with her name on it. It was recently written too. What did it have to say inside?
Kelly’s heart pounded as she opened the note. She braced herself as she prepared herself to read a tearful goodbye letter. She was completely unaware that it wasn’t a goodbye letter at all.
It was a letter of confession and contained information about a life-long family secret that shattered Kelly’s image of her angelic father. She was shell-shocked to find what was contained inside.
Tears started to fall down her cheeks as she read her father’s handwriting. She could almost hear him talking next to her. “To my everything, my sweet Kelly”, it read.
“I am so sorry you had to find out this way, I regret not telling you this sooner but I thought you would not forgive me if you found out. The truth is, I am not your real father. I could not have children of my own but I found you by the street and thought your parents had abandoned you so I took you in and cared for you as my own.” The letter continued…
“I did not expect your real father to find you. I was not going to let him take you away from me so I told him to leave. I told him you would end up poor like him if he took you back, I can provide a better life for you.”
“He left without a word and when I look back on this memory, I realize how cruel I had been. I made him promise me he’d keep your relationship a secret and he agreed. He’s been looking after you all this time though, he owns a pancake cart and you should recognize him”. Kelly’s heart dropped.
“I loved you as any parent loved their child but he is your real father. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for keeping this a secret for so long.” Kelly finished reading the letter and started to weep.
She couldn’t believe what had just happened. It felt like her whole life had been a lie but she couldn’t bring herself to be angry at her father. She knew he just wanted the best for her. She just wished she could talk to him and reassure him that she still loved him.
Now everything made sense. This is why the street vendor seemed to have followed her around all her life and why he kept a distance at her wedding while looking super emotional.
Kelly burst into tears. She felt an overwhelming sadness for both her biological father and her real father. He must have wanted to tell her and was so fearful of what she would do. She grabbed the letter and left.
Immediately she looked for him. She found him exactly where she knew he would be. On the street not too far from her home. She ran up to him and gave him a hug before handing him the letter her father left her.
Kelly watched his confusion slowly unravel as he read the letter. Tears started to fall down his cheek, mirroring Kelly’s. He crumbled into sobs as he looked at Kelly and gave her a long-awaited hug. Reunited at last.
