This photo was taken on my dad’s 82nd birthday, during a simple family moment that no one realized would become so precious with time. My mum leaned in to kiss him just as he was about to blow out the candles, and he laughed in that familiar way she always loved. Seeing this moment come alive again felt like stepping back into their everyday love, a gentle reminder that the most treasured memories are often found in the simplest, most affectionate moments.

My mother has always said that her wedding day with my father was the most beautiful and unforgettable moment of her life. So for her birthday this year, I wanted to bring that moment back to her, the smiles, the way he looked at her, the feeling of that day.

She covered her mouth and started to cry when she watched it. Seeing herself and my father alive in that moment again felt like she was stepping back into the memory she has held closest to her heart. It’s a gift I know she will never forget.

Seeing this moment again brought everything back to me. It’s been more than twenty years since the last time I sat beside my grandmother to celebrate her birthday, and I never imagined that this unplanned, ordinary photo would become one of the memories I’ve held closest all these years. Being able to feel it come alive again reminds me how lucky I was to be there with her, sharing that final birthday together. It’s a moment I treasure deeply, and one I’m grateful I can experience again, even now.

I didn’t know this would become one of the photos I’d hold onto the most. It was just a quick hug, a laugh. Back then, moments like this felt endless.

Now he’s gone, and looking at this I can still feel his arms around me, the warmth, the comfort, the love we never had to say out loud. It reminds me that even though he’s no longer here, the way he loved me still is.

My wife has been fighting late-stage cancer, and over the past few months she has spent most of her days in bed. On the hardest days, she would hold onto memories of her mum, who is no longer here. The moment she returned to the most was the last birthday she spent with her.

For Christmas, I wanted to give her something that could bring her a little strength. When she saw that birthday moment come alive again, she covered her mouth and cried. She told me it felt like her mum was right there with her, watching over her, and giving her the courage she needed to keep going.