Ellie sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by her art supplies. Her tiny hands gripped a crayon as she drew a vibrant picture of a tent under a starlit sky. The picture was meant for her father, Captain Russ, who was far away in a distant land. "Dear Daddy," she began to write beneath her drawing, "I miss our camping trips. I hope you can come home soon."

Ellie's mother, Sarah, entered the room quietly, her eyes soft with understanding. She sat beside Ellie, watching her daughter finish the letter. "That's a beautiful drawing, sweetheart," Sarah said, wrapping an arm around Ellie. "Thanks, Mom. Do you think Daddy will like it?" Ellie asked, her eyes hopeful. "He'll love it," Sarah assured her, smoothing down Ellie's hair. "It's filled with so much love."

Ellie lay in bed, her thoughts swirling like the stars she had drawn earlier. She clutched a small, worn-out teddy bear, a gift from her father. "Goodnight, Daddy," she whispered to the ceiling, imagining Captain Russ looking up at the same sky from wherever he was.

Ellie woke up with renewed determination. She had a plan to send more letters and drawings, each one a little piece of her world to share with Captain Russ. "I'll write to him every week," she declared at breakfast, her voice filled with resolve. Sarah nodded, her heart swelling with pride. "He'll look forward to every single one," she promised, knowing how much those letters meant to both of them.

Ellie's pencil moved swiftly over the paper. She wrote about her day at school, the new books she had read, and her latest adventures in the backyard. Each word was a bridge connecting her to Captain Russ, a reminder that they were never truly apart. "I hope you can come home soon, Daddy. I love you," she ended the letter, folding it carefully.

Ellie placed the letter into the mailbox, her heart lightened by the act of sharing her world with her father. She looked up at the sky, whispering a silent wish for his safety. The stars began to twinkle, as if answering her in their own mysterious way. Sarah joined her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "He'll be back soon," she said softly, sharing the same hope that kept them both strong.