A father was tinkering around in his teenage daughter’s recently-purchased car when he found an envelope hidden in the glove box.
Kevin Duke says he was moved to tears by the handwritten letter it contained from the vehicle’s previous owner, which he shared with Love What Matters.
“I just wanted to let you know what a special vehicle you’ve bought,” the note began.
“The car belonged to my mum. She passed away February 25, 2015 in a house fire along with my 6-year-old daughter and my aunt.”
After losing her three relatives, the author – who later came forward as Sylvia Archey – said she was distraught when an insurance mix up meant her car had to be repossessed.
“It’s very upsetting that I have lost my family and my home and now I’m losing this last link I have with my mum and child through no fault of my own,” she wrote.
“I’m not mad at you. I hope this car is the best car you’ve ever owned. I hope it runs for 100 more years. I hope the back seat is filled with kids and toys and random things. My family filled this car with lots of love and other sticky things.”
LISTEN: The Well discuss the seven stages of grief. Post continues after snippet…
The letter goes on to describe some of Archey’s memories in the car that bought her nothing but “love, joy and adventure”.
“This car, with all its quirks, is the last piece of my family. Be nice to it. Play it a country song, ‘Big Green Tractor’ was my daughter’s favourite sound ever or some Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Freebird’. That song meant so much that I played it at their funerals.
“You’re riding with angels. My angels. Talk to them if you like, I’m sure they’d like to see and hear about any new adventure you take in this car.”
The grieving mother finishes with a promise to buy the car, also named "Sylvia", when she is in a better financial situation.
"Be blessed, be happy, live and love like we did," it ends.
In a comment on the Love What Matters post, which has more than 18,000 reactions already, Archey identified herself.
She said she was "beyond touched" by the response the story had received.
"I can't say it enough, how amazing Kevin truly is. He did not have to let me know that he found my letter. He didn't have to share our story here," she wrote.
"Please don't be upset with him for having Sylvia. I know in my bones that if he was able to give me the car that he would in an instant. It's not easy to buy a car. He just got lucky and got this one."
Archey finished with a message for all those who had given their support, or shared their own personal experiences of loss.
"Give your babies extra loving, call your mum and go visit your grandparents if you still have them. Tomorrow is not promised!"
Top Comments
For those who choose to be empathetic instead of the fallback angry and indignant, a You caring site has been set up to try and crowd fund a new car for the man's daughter. Here is the link.
https://www.youcaring.com/s...
Interestingly enough he was not at all angry, nor did he feel guilty or burdened. He simply felt what most people did - immensely grateful and touched.
How about those that can see two sides, and not just write off people as angry and indignant? Pointing out that a letter can and does come across as rather manipulative, passive-aggressive and a guilt attack is not 'angry or indignant', just because you are too closed-minded that you cannot see what others see. I myself lost a car also but I would never write such a passive-aggressive and emotionally manipulative guilt-trip letter like that. To me it was an act of vindictiveness 'if I can't have the car then I will make the buyer feel guilty and bad'. It is like she is making a last-ditch attempt to get the car back, and people should not reward her for it.
That actually made me a bit angry. A terribly sad story, but very unfair to offload all that onto someone who simply went out and bought a car for their daughter. Now they are always going to feel guilty for having the car. I know I would. They only had to say "This was a very special car to our family and we hope you love it as much as we did", or similar.
I agree Jojo. What a huge weight for the new owner. It pretty much makes them feel that they have to give the car back.
I could not disagree more. It is a story of love. Pure love and missing her baby and mom. I would take extra care of the car.