Mum discovers bittersweet handwritten note in second-hand book
A Melbourne mum and her daughters are on the search to return a second-hand book to its previous owner, after finding an emotional message inside.
Natalie Coleman purchased a second-hand book for her daughter, Leni, from a pre-loved bookshop in Melbourne.
When the St Kilda mum brought the 5 Minute Princess Stories book home, she discovered a message written inside the front cover of the book.
The letter was from a man named Barry and addressed to his daughter, Alexis.
“Dear Alexis. If you’re getting this without me, it’s because unfortunately my circumstances got too grim for me to give it to you yourself,” the note read.
“You need to know I always loved you with all my heart.
“You were the first thing I thought about when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I thought about at night.
“Love Dad (Barry).”
After reading the emotional message and knowing the meaning that must be attached to it, Natalie is now determined to track down Alexis and reunite her with her special book.
The mum shared images of the book on social media, in the hope that it could help her track down Alexis.
“I recently picked up this book from a St Kilda Op-shop for my daughter,” she explained in her post.
“The message just breaks my heart… if you know Alexis (Dad named Barry) I would love to return your book.”
The post has been shared in several Facebook groups but Alexis has not yet been found.
“As much as we love the book, we’d like to see it returned to the little girl whose dad wrote the letter,” Natalie told the Herald Sun.
“Any young person would treasure these words from their father.”