Fifteen-year-old Charlie often felt left out. His friends received expensive gifts—cars, phones, trips—while he got simple presents and apologies from his mom, Alice. One day, after hearing a friend got a new car, Charlie snapped at Alice, demanding why she couldn’t do the same. Calmly, she said something special was planned for his birthday, but a car wasn’t possible.

Still upset, Charlie later snooped on her laptop and found a delivery schedule for 15 future birthdays. Curious, he followed clues to a storage unit and discovered neatly wrapped gifts, each labeled by year. One note read: “If you’re reading this, I may not be with you anymore. I’ve been battling cancer, but I wanted you to feel my love every year.”

Overwhelmed, Charlie rushed home, hugged his mom tightly, and cried, “I don’t care about the gifts. I just want you, Mom.” They embraced, both grateful for the time they still had.