A Brother's Unspoken Letter: A Voice for the One Who Never Was

"The fetus in the womb"ca. 1511. , Leonardo da Vinci 

In a realm beyond time and space, where souls drift like stars in an endless sky, a young spirit sat alone, waiting for something they couldn’t name. There was no sorrow here, nor joy—just an eternal, quiet existence. The other souls passed by, whispering of lives they had lived, of laughter, of tears, of love. But this one had nothing to share.

Then, like a ripple in still water, something changed. A letter appeared, its edges shimmering with a faint glow. The spirit hesitated before reaching out, fingers brushing against the inked words. As they read, the world around them blurred, and for the first time, they felt something—longing.

To my dearest sibling, whom I never had the chance to meet,

I came to know that you were never given an opportunity, and I wanted to write you this letter—not just to tell you about life, but to share what I have learned through my own journey. Life is a path filled with unexpected turns, joys, and sorrows. Though you never walked this earth, I hope that, in some way, my words reach you.

I have learned acceptance—the ability to embrace myself fully, with all my imperfections and strengths. Life constantly tests our self-worth, but I have come to understand that it is our unique qualities that define us. I have learned to accept the journey, with all its highs and lows, because each moment, no matter how small, shapes who we become.

Through time, I have also discovered the importance of growth and learning. Every experience, whether triumphant or painful, has been a lesson. It is through adversity that I have found resilience, and through success that I have learned humility. I used to fear the unknown, but now I see it as the gateway to wisdom.

I have been blessed to understand the value of family and relationships. The bonds we form with others are the essence of our existence. I have learned to cherish my loved ones, to forgive their flaws, and to celebrate their virtues. Family is not just about blood—it is about the connections we nurture and the love we share. These relationships have been my anchor in the stormy seas of life. I often wonder what our bond would have been like, had we been given the chance.

Life is not without its challenges. I have faced obstacles that seemed insurmountable, but I have come to realize that it is not the fall that defines us, but our ability to rise again. Every hardship has shaped me into who I am. I have learned that setbacks are not endings, but opportunities to grow stronger.

As I have walked this path, I have also sought understanding—to grasp the deeper meanings of life. I have learned that existence is filled with mysteries, and while I may never have all the answers, the pursuit of knowledge itself is a gift. I have questioned, explored, and formed my own truths, and I wonder what yours might have been, had you been given the chance.

More than anything, I wish I could have held you, even just once. I wish I could have spoken these words to you in person, not through ink and paper, but through the warmth of my voice. And even though I never met you, I love you.

The spirit clutched the letter to their chest, though they had no heart to beat against it. A strange warmth spread through them—love, perhaps, or something close to it. They looked up at the endless sky, where souls drifted like lost echoes of lives unlived.

They clutched the letter tighter, though they had no fingers to grasp it, no heart to ache—yet something within them was breaking. A sorrow they had no words for welled up, silent and vast, like the emptiness they had always known. In that moment, they wondered—would they have liked the one who wrote this letter? Would they have shared the same joy, the same heartache, if only life had given them a chance to live?

Their chest, where a heart should have been, ached as if it were tearing apart. A phantom pain for something they never had. A breath they never took. A life that was never theirs.

“Why was I not allowed to feel this thing called life?” they whispered into the void, their voice barely more than a thought. “Why was the choice made for me? Why do those who create life become the first to take it from those who have no say in it?”

And with that, the letter dissolved into stardust, returning to the universe that had never been theirs. The spirit drifted, caught in the space between becoming and never being. They floated, like an unborn soul, never to feel, never to be.

Yet somehow, in that endless void, they existed—if only for a moment, if only as a whisper in the dark.

Image source: "The fetus in the womb" - Wikipedia