Lila sat on the porch steps, her eyes fixed on the lighthouse across the bay. The old Coast Guard cap rested snugly in her lap, a cherished relic of her father. Every sunset reminded her of the evenings they spent together, listening to tales of his adventures on the sea. "I miss you, Dad," she whispered to the fading light.

Lila stood up, gripping the cap tightly, and headed inside. Her mother was at the stove, stirring the pot with gentle, practiced motions. Lila placed the cap on the table and sat down, watching her mother with a contemplative expression. "Do you think he can feel us thinking about him?" she asked softly. Her mother smiled, a mixture of warmth and sadness in her eyes. "I believe he can, sweetheart. And I know he's thinking about us too, wherever he is."

Lila retreated to her room, her heart full of longing. She sat at her small wooden desk, the surface cluttered with pencils and paper. With determination, she picked up a pen and began to write, pouring her heart onto the page. "Dear Dad, I hope you're safe and not too tired. I think about you every day..." Her words flowed, a bridge between them across the miles of sea.

Lila finished her letter and sealed it in an envelope. She held it to her heart, imagining it reaching her father before the next storm. "Please keep him safe," she prayed to the lighthouse, its unwavering light a beacon of hope.

Lila closed her eyes, the letter tucked under her pillow. She imagined her father reading her words, feeling her love across the distance. "Goodnight, Dad," she whispered to the night, comforted by the thought that her message would soon be on its way.