SPOILERS: Nothing major...Claddagh rings from Surprise. Thats about it. Spoilers for The Hardest Christmas. Some tiny reference to Graduation Day
SUMMARY: Maighan Willow O'Connor reads a letter from her mom

2018.

Today I graduated high school. It feels like another chapter has closed in my life. All my extended family came, Aunt Willow and Uncle Oz, Aunt Cordelia and Uncle Xander, Grampa, Grandma Joyce too, even though she's ill, swore she wouldn't miss another graduation in the family, not after having to miss mom's. We've all been out for a meal, and after we came back home, and Kieran and Melissa had gone up to sleep, Dad came and gave me a letter. My name was written in Mom's handwriting on the front, and I could smell her perfume of it. It's amazing, even though I was only 7 when she died, I can still remember small things, like how she smelled. "Maighan Willow O'Connor"

I haven't even opened the envelope yet, and I'm crying. Dad gives me a half smile, and goes upstairs. I slowly open the letter, and begin reading, savouring every word which mom has wrote to me.

"Dear Maighan,

I wish I could be telling you this in person, but I know myself that its time to go. I'm glad I had the chance to have you, something I thought I'd never get, because of the Slayer in me. I'm not sad because my life is ending, its a lot longer than I expected to live, but I'm sad because I've missed out on your life. This is an important day for you. I hope it went well. Know that I'm proud of you honey, no matter what you decide to do in life. You were always into reading, I guess that comes from your dad, because I could never sit still more than 10 minutes. I know you'll have gotten into a great college..."

She's right. I got into every college which had a stamp, but I've decided to go to UC Sunnydale.

"I hope your Graduation was better than mine. I never wanted you to know the world of demons and all, but its better that you are prepared..."

Dad told me all about her Graduation, and the mayor trying to ascend.

"I'll be there. At your graduation. Definitely. I'll be watching you, no matter how impossible it may be, because the "powers that be" better know, there's no messing with the slayer when its her eldest daughters graduation"

I've always heard how stubborn she was. The tears are flowing freely down my face now.

"Look after your dad, he doesn't believe that I'm dying now. I don't know if he'll ever accept it. The ring you wear on a necklace is one your dad gave me for my 17th birthday. It's a claddagh ring, and the heart stands for love, the crown for loyalty and the hands for friendship. I hope that you find someone who means all that to you."

I've been subconciously toying with the tiny silver ring all this time. I know vaguely what happened around mom's birthday, but I don't know many details. It seems to hurt everyone too much to talk about it.

"Kieran and Missy must be growing up now. It tears my soul that I wont see all of you grown up. I love you honey.

All my love,
Mom."

I'm sobbing by now, but I fold up mom's letter and put it back in the envelope, because I don't want to cry on it.

"I love you too mom".

It's then I see my dad sitting on the stairs. He walks over to me, and envelopes me in a big hug. He's never remarried, or even dated anyone else. I know my dad, I know he'll feel guilty if he even looks at another woman. He hasn't moved on, and there's no one on earth who even compares to mom in his eyes. Aunt Cordelia tried to set him up with a few women, he was an attractive man, but he snubbed them all. I know, if he accepts mom's death, he'll die too, so I'm glad he hasn't. It may sound horrible, but its true.

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