I Was Looking At a Photo of My Late Wife and Me When Something Fell Out of the Frame and Made Me Go Pale

After Emily’s funeral, I returned home to find a hidden photo behind our engagement picture—Emily cradling a newborn in a hospital bed. Confused, I dialed the number written on the back and learned that Emily had given up a daughter, Lily, for adoption years before we met. Lily, now 25, had always known about Emily and was eager to meet me.

We met the next day, and I was struck by how much she resembled Emily. We shared stories, and I began to understand the secret Emily had kept to protect Lily. I promised to always be there for her.

That night, I placed the hidden photo next to our engagement picture, vowing to honor both Emily and Lily.