To the woman who gave birth to me:

Thank you for giving me life. I do not have a relationship with you, but we are connected through this one event. My life is a precious gift. For this, I thank you.

I am not angry at you. I know you made many mistakes, and I know that these mistakes have hurt many people, including me. But, I am not angry. You are the maker and creator of your life. I wish that you could see then how these choices have affected many people. These days I have been getting to know my siblings who I did not get to grow up with, and it's exciting and painful at the same time. There's this intense longing for the past like I missed out on something. The strangest thing is staring into the eyes of someone you look like, but yet at the same time is a complete stranger. Thank you for these beautiful people that are also your children. I love them dearly.

I have done a lot of things without you. Every birthday, did you think of me? Maybe, maybe not. I grew up, I got good grades, I did sports, I played an instrument, I had my heart broken, I graduated from college, and I got a big girl job. I did many things that you probably did not know about. I hope that you would be proud of me.

I'm so lucky to have been adopted, especially with two of your other children, my brother, and sister. It's not always easy explaining to people what happened to you, why I don't look like my parents, or what it means that I have siblings in neighboring towns. Yet, this is my reality and now I can be thankful.

Mom, what I really want to tell you is that I forgive you. I forgive you for the lifestyle you chose and not your children. But, my life has turned out wonderful and I have no hard feelings toward you. You are a stranger to me, and that's OK. Maybe one day you will read this and feel no guilt and shame about the past. I was almost your daughter, and I don't understand it all, but I am thankful for the life I have.

From,

Your almost daughter