The Man My Daughter Said Misses Me!

Every night before bed, my six-year-old daughter waved toward the hallway.
At first, it was cute — part of her bedtime routine. “Goodnight, mister,” she’d whisper softly, smiling at the empty space near the door.

I assumed it was her imagination. Kids create worlds only they can see, and I loved that about her.
But one night, her voice sounded more serious. I asked gently, “Who are you saying goodnight to?”

She looked up at me, thoughtful. “The man who says he misses you.”

The hallway wall was empty — no mirror, no reflection, nothing but the glow of her nightlight.
For a moment, it felt like time stopped. Then she giggled, climbed into bed, and drifted to sleep.

That night stayed with me. Maybe children see kindness where adults see coincidence. Maybe the “man in the mirror” was just a symbol — a reflection of how love never truly disappears.

Whatever it was, it reminded me to keep space for wonder — because sometimes, imagination holds the kind of truth that logic never will.