[Lục Tuyết Kỳ]

My dearest little princess,

Today wasn’t just your birthday. It was a quiet reminder of how truly special you are. Not because of any big celebration, but because of the gentle, beautiful way you move through the world.

You never ask for much. You’re never loud. Yet somehow, you leave the biggest mark on everyone’s heart.

Since you were little, barely 3 or 4 yr-old, your teachers have told me how kind and brave you are. How you stand up for friends, speak up when something’s wrong, and always choose what’s right without anyone asking. That’s not just courage. It’s a strength that comes from knowing exactly who you are. And you, my sweet girl, have always known.

Today, you didn’t want a party. You just wanted time with Mummy and the people you love. When your godsister offered you a shiny new iPad, you smiled and said it was too expensive. Instead, you chose a soft pink bunny. Something simple. Something that feels like home.

That moment stayed with me. You could’ve had anything, but you picked what makes you feel safe and warm. That’s why you’re my dandelion - gentle yet strong, sweet yet steady. You don’t need to shout to shine. You just do, in your own quiet, natural way.

Tonight, in our home, the one we built together 5 years ago, I’m surrounded by the scent of the yellow jasmine flowers we planted in your serenity garden. I see us laughing as we painted your room, laying rocks, and tucking those flowers into the earth side by side. As you hugged me tight before falling asleep, clutching that bunny and whispering, “Thank you, Mummy, for the best birthday ever,” my heart swelled. I hope you feel how loved you are. By Mummy, Papa, your aunties and uncles, your brother and sister, some tied by blood, others by heart, but all of us wrapped around you, loving you for being you.

Happy 9th birthday, our little princess. You are everything good in this world, and you are loved more than you can ever know.

With all my heart,
Mummy, Mid-April, 2025