I hope you stole what you needed

Dear whoever you are,

Today, I walked up to my dad's car and found it had been broken into. He'd lent it to me for a week, and today was the last day I had to keep it before giving it back to him as he returned from his work trip. Last night, I considered driving to his place to park it in the garage, where it would rest more safely, but decided against it because I didn't want to risk walking home alone in the dark at 3am. So I parked it a few blocks away from my place, and woke up to its windows smashed, its contents rummaged through, and my scooter in the trunk stolen.

All I want to say to you is, I hope you stole whatever you needed, and that you make with that whatever you need that keeps you from having to steal again. The scooter, which I was going to take for repairs on Monday, is the only way I currently have to get from one workplace to another on time every day. My dad needs the car to go to work, too.

We're not wealthy by any means, but we are fortunate enough to not go without a meal or a roof under our heads every night. When I called my dad, coming undone with tears and apologies, the first thing he asked was if I'd been in the car when it happened. I said I hadn't. He asked if I was okay. I said I was. He asked if I had been hurt in any way. I said I hadn't. Then he breathed a sigh of relief and told me: 'I'm glad. Everything else we can fix with time. I'm just glad you're okay.'

Whoever you are: I hope you find that kind of support and somehow find a path to stop taking from others what does not belong to you. To us, this is a setback and a considerable expense, but I know I'm so rich in having a dad whose first reaction was to ask if I was fine. A fiancé who immediately picked up the phone and calmed me down to remind me of the very same, and a mum who asked if I needed a hug. You may have broken what is not yours and stolen what I need to go to work... but you did not hurt me, or my loved ones, and in doing so our true wealth remains intact.

I hope you find love, support, and a way out of your current path.