I was scrolling my phone when the notification popped up.

“Hey sweetheart, I miss you. Call me when you can. ❤️”

My chest tightened. My mom passed away three years ago.

I clicked the number. It was her old number. The one we had disconnected after she died.

I stared at the screen, my hands shaking. Maybe it was a glitch. Maybe someone else had the number now.

But then another text came through.

“I need to tell you something. It’s important.”

My stomach turned. This had to be a mistake, right? I knew numbers got reassigned, but what were the chances of someone using her exact wording? My mom always signed her messages with “Hey sweetheart” and that little heart emoji. My hands trembled as I pressed the call button.

It rang twice before someone picked up.

“Hello?”

The voice on the other end made my heart stop. It was soft, warm, and heartbreakingly familiar. “Mom?” I whispered, barely breathing.

There was a small pause before the woman answered. “Oh, sweetheart, I think there’s been a mix-up. I’m so sorry.”

My throat tightened. “Who is this?” I asked, my voice uneven.

“My name is Eleanor,” she said gently. “I’ve had this number for a while now. I think you were trying to reach someone else.”

I exhaled slowly, feeling both embarrassed and heartbroken at the same time. “I—I’m sorry. I got a message from this number, and it was something my mom used to say. She passed away three years ago. I thought… for a second, I thought…”

“Oh, honey,” Eleanor said, her voice filled with so much kindness it almost hurt. “That must’ve been quite a shock. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just meant to text my granddaughter. Her name is Lily, and I suppose you two must look alike. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and I must’ve sent it to the wrong person.”

I let out a small, shaky laugh. “You call her ‘sweetheart’ and send her little hearts too?”

“Always.” I could hear the smile in her voice. “And from what I gather, your mom did the same.”

I wiped at my eyes, overwhelmed by a strange sense of comfort. “Yeah. She did.”

There was a pause. “Maybe,” Eleanor said softly, “this was meant to happen. Maybe your mom just wanted to remind you that she still loves you, even from heaven.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You think so?”

“I do,” she said with certainty. “Love doesn’t end, sweetheart. It just finds new ways to show itself.”

We talked for a few more minutes. She told me about her granddaughter, and I told her about my mom. By the time we hung up, I felt lighter, like I had just been given a gift I hadn’t known I needed.

A few days later, I got another message from Eleanor.

“Just wanted to check in on you, sweetheart. I hope today is a good day. ❤️”

I smiled, tears stinging my eyes. Maybe it had been a mistake. Or maybe it had been something more—a small, beautiful coincidence that reminded me love never really leaves. It just finds its way back to us, in the most unexpected ways.

If this story touched your heart, share it with someone who might need a little reminder that love never truly fades. ❤️