My son asked if he could be my valentine. My wife and daughter were killed in a car crash last year.

My wife and I had been together for twenty years. We met in college and were married five years after we met. We had our daughter, Katie, when I was 33 and our son, Timmy, when I was 36.<br><br>Five days before thanksgiving last year, Timmy and Katie came home from school. They asked about their mom and I told them she wasn’t home yet. They asked if their sister could play with them and I told them she was in her room. A few hours later, we heard a knock on the door and I answered it. Two uniformed officers were standing there. They told me my wife and daughter were in an accident. They died on the scene.<br><br>Timmy is still young; he didn’t fully understand what had happened. Katie was my little girl, all the way up until the end. She was 12. Timmy was 6. My poor babies. How could I still keep going after losing two of them? I was in a daze. I still am. I red-eyed a ticket to my parents’ hometown and buried my wife and daughter.<br><br>I couldn’t stay in that house anymore. Too many memories. I moved across the country and started going back to work. Now I spend most of my day in the office and most of my night passed out on the couch drinking myself to sleep and crying.<br><br>I haven’t been the same since then. I go through the motions of being a good single dad to Timmy, but I am not the same person I used to be. I know he can tell. I miss Katie and my wife so much, it feels like I’m being strangled by heartbreak every second of every day.<br><br>My boy is a wonderful kid. He’s been really patient with me. He even said it’s ok if I don’t want to play video games with him all the time. He told me to and told me to keep working through my sad feelings. He’s such a good kid.<br><br>Valentines is just a few days away. Timmy has been doing very well in school. He brought home a card for a valentines party he gets to go to. He’s been talking about it nonstop. I asked if he wanted to go to the after party, too, and he said yes.<br><br>I woke up this morning to him supping orange juice out of the carton.<br><br>“Hey buddy. what are you doing??” I asked, grogily.<br><br>“I was thinking…” he started. “You don’t have a valentine anymore.”<br><br>I felt a sharp jab in my heart. He was talking about his mom. I was trying to hold back my tears. Complete failure. He saw.<br><br>“It’s ok, daddy. I know you’re sad. I miss mommy too.”<br><br>I sobbed. I couldn’t help it. I laid back in bed and cried. My son got in bed with me holding the carton of OJ and hugged me.<br><br>“You can be my Valentine, if you want.” He said.<br><br>My heart broke more. What did I do to deserve a boy like him? He’s so brave and selfless. How can a six-year-old be so strong even after losing his mom and sister? He’s my hero Timmy. My little Valentine.<br><br>I know I haven’t been as good of a dad as I should be. I’m doing the best I can. I’m working very hard to give you the best life you deserve. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you lately. It seems like you’ve been taking care of me more than I’ve been taking care of you.<br><br>I love you with my whole heart. You’re my little buddy. You’re my only buddy now. I promise things will get better. Soon, I’ll be back to my old self. We’ll have a great Valentine’s day. I’ll buy you all the candy you can eat. I’ll take you to the arcade and to the park and anywhere you want little man.<br><br>I will always love you. I would never let anything bad happen to you. You are the most important person in my life. I promise to always be there for you. You mean more to me than anything. I would give my life to save yours.<br><br>I love you, Timmy. I’ll love you until the day I die.<br><br>You’re my little buddy.<br><br>Valentine. Forever.<br><br>Edit: if you read this far thanks so much for all the awards, gold, and silver. I appreciate all the kind words and I’m so grateful for all the attention this little story has received.<br><br>And if you haven’t read my other stories, check them out. I posted a list of them in a thread on my profile. I’ve got over a hundred of them at this point.