June 30, 2004
Dear 女儿 (daughter),
I am feeling weaker today and am not sure I will live to tell you this myself. If you are reading this letter, know that I have passed on peacefully and have entrusted your daughter to deliver this to you.
I'm sorry we haven't seen each other in so long — 爸爸 (father) does not want to see you. He cares very much about his reputation — too much, I would say. Men often forget about the lives of us women. 爸 (father) is no different — he can never understand what we go through. But he worries about you, too. He doesn't want you ostracized from the only community we belong to here.
Perhaps in our mainland home I'd worry you would never find a happy life, but this is America. Things can be different here, and I hope both you and the child will always have someone to eat meals with.
No matter what, you will always be my daughter. And no matter what, you will always be welcome in my home when I see you next.
妈妈 (mother)
Dear 女儿 (daughter),
I am feeling weaker today and am not sure I will live to tell you this myself. If you are reading this letter, know that I have passed on peacefully and have entrusted your daughter to deliver this to you.
I'm sorry we haven't seen each other in so long — 爸爸 (father) does not want to see you. He cares very much about his reputation — too much, I would say. Men often forget about the lives of us women. 爸 (father) is no different — he can never understand what we go through. But he worries about you, too. He doesn't want you ostracized from the only community we belong to here.
Perhaps in our mainland home I'd worry you would never find a happy life, but this is America. Things can be different here, and I hope both you and the child will always have someone to eat meals with.
No matter what, you will always be my daughter. And no matter what, you will always be welcome in my home when I see you next.
妈妈 (mother)