Dear Dad,
It’s me, your eldest daughter, and there’s something I’ve been meaning to express. It’s one of those things I think about often but struggle to put into words. So here it goes… Thank you.
Thank you for always knowing where I was. That night at the lake started like any other. I went with a friend, a guy I had known forever. You knew him too; we even attended Junior Prom together. I still remember asking for your permission before leaving with him, and you made sure he understood the importance of being back in an hour.
You and Mom were the “cool” parents with an open-door policy. Our home was always buzzing with friends. You both were involved in my life in ways I didn’t fully appreciate until later. Little did I know, your attentiveness would become a shield for me one fateful night.
Something terrible happened at the lake, Dad. But it could have been much worse. My ‘friend’ didn’t bother to ask for consent before trying to kiss me, and when I said stop, he didn’t listen. He didn’t stop when I pushed him away. “If you scream, no one will hear you.” At that moment, I was paralyzed by fear.
As a young woman, you prepare for such moments, imagining how strong you’ll be if faced with danger. You know your own strength and you think you know how to say no firmly. But nothing can truly prepare you for the bone-chilling terror of an unexpected attack. I certainly wasn’t ready for it.
And then, Dad, I remembered you made me take my phone. You insisted on it in case we lost track of time. In that moment of sheer horror, I managed to pull it out, but he snatched it from my hand. There was nothing I could do. My adrenaline surged, but it didn’t grant me superhuman strength—only fear.
Then, my phone began to ring, and I froze. He froze too. It was you, Dad. An hour had passed, and you were calling to tell me to come home. He knew he had to let me answer; otherwise, you would surely come looking for me. When I answered, your voice cut through the chaos. You told me to come home, but what I truly heard was, “I love you, I care for you, I am here to protect you.”
Your awareness of my whereabouts meant everything. He let me go, knowing you would be searching for me.
He left me with threats, claiming he’d return to finish what he had started and that if I ever told anyone, he’d ruin my reputation at school. But I did tell. I confided in Mom, and in classic Mom fashion, she jumped in her car, drove to his house, and confronted his mother. Then she went to his girlfriend’s house to speak to her mom. In retaliation, he spread rumors that I was a promiscuous girl. He was a football player, and sadly, everyone believed him. Senior year was one of the toughest chapters of my life. He stole my friends and my happiness, but he couldn’t take my innocence. That remained intact, simply because you knew where I was.
Words may never fully convey the depth of gratitude I have for you after that night, but I hope this letter sheds some light on the respect and appreciation I hold for you as a parent.
Thank you again, Dad. Thank you for knowing where I was.