It has only been 49 days since my sister passed away, and my brother-in-law wanted to find someone to take care of his meals. I went to burn incense for my sister when suddenly…

My sister had just passed away for exactly 49 days, and the pain had not yet subsided when I heard the neighbors whispering:  “Your brother-in-law is hinting at finding someone new to take care of the meals!”  My heart ached, both for my sister and for my brother-in-law’s haste.

That day, I quietly went to light incense for her. Unexpectedly, as soon as I entered the door, my 4-year-old niece suddenly rushed to hug me, calling out two words that made me freeze:

“Mom!”

The whole house was dead silent. I quickly knelt down and hugged the baby, tears streaming down my face. My brother-in-law came out of the room, his eyes red, his voice choked, whispering to me exactly three words:

“Don’t go away…”

I trembled, not knowing whether to cry or be angry. That hug lasted until late at night, and then that night… something that no one in the family could have imagined happened.

Then the next morning, before I could come to my senses, I opened the wooden cabinet where my sister used to store her clothes, and a stack of envelopes fell straight to my feet. Inside, each sheet of paper was covered with her shaky handwriting, like a last wish:

“If I’m gone, please stay with him and the child in my place…”

I held the envelopes, my hands shaking. It was her handwriting — slanted, with some smudges as if she had shed tears. I sat down.

She wrote

“If you are reading this, it means I can no longer be with him and our child. I believe you understand me — a man of few words, but full of love. The child is still too young… please don’t let her grow up without a mother’s love. I know this is selfish, but… if possible, please stay with him instead of me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, falling onto the pages. Feelings of pain, loss, and confusion mixed together. Why did she trust me so much? Why could she write these words when she knew they would haunt me for the rest of my life?

My brother-in-law quietly walked over and put his hand on my shoulder:
— She knows that you are the only one who can take care of her like a real mother. I… don’t dare force you, but I hope you understand.

I looked at him, his eyes were tired and haggard. So many questions arose in my mind: If I agreed, would I be betraying the sacred love between us sisters? But if I refused, what would happen to the child?

That night, I couldn’t sleep. I went into her room and found her fast asleep, her arms tightly hugging her old teddy bear. The yellow light of the nightlight shone on her small face — a face that looked a lot like my sister’s. My heart clenched.

The next morning, I returned to the altar and lit an incense stick for her. Looking at her portrait, I whispered:
— Sister… I will stay. Not for him, but for the child. But don’t worry, the feelings between him and me will always be kept in check. I will take your place in raising the child until it becomes an adult.

From that day on, I moved to my brother-in-law’s house. Outsiders gossiped and looked at me with suspicion. But every time they gossiped, I just needed to see my niece’s innocent smile and all the pressure would disappear.

Years passed, the little girl grew up healthy and well-behaved. As for me, every time I stood before her altar, I still kept my promise from years ago. My brother-in-law respected me, we considered each other as two companions, with a single goal — to care for and protect the child that my sister had entrusted her life to.

Because true love… sometimes doesn’t need a name, doesn’t need romantic promises, but only needs complete devotion until the end.