My Dearest Children, Thomas and Nicole,

I hope this letter finds you both in good health and contentment, despite the distance that has grown between us. It’s with a heavy heart and a hopeful spirit that I reach out to you today, not to argue or persuade, but to share my perspective, my reflections and the profound impact our current world situation has had on our family.

The era we find ourselves in, marked by the global pandemic and response to it, has undeniably been one of the most challenging periods of our lives. It has tested the fabric of society, strained relationships, and polarised opinions in ways we could have never anticipated. Through it all, your mother and I have felt a growing concern over how these divisions have not only influenced the world at large but have seeped into the very core of our family, creating a chasm that seems to widen with each passing day.