Woman grieving her dad finds a text he had sent his then-girlfriend talking about his daughter — the message left her heartbroken
After a loved one is gone, the memories they leave behind often become the most valuable things we carry forward. For one woman, a simple message from the past became an emotional reminder of how much her father loved her. Mary Hackett, 31, from Omaha, Nebraska, had always shared a close bond with her dad. Months after losing him, she came across an old text he had once sent to someone about his daughter. The discovery left her in tears. The story gained attention after Hackett shared it on TikTok on March 2, 2026. Posting under the handle @merry.hack, she spoke about her experience of grief and healing, as reported by Newsweek.
The message she found was simple but deeply meaningful. It read: “I just spent a couple hours with Mary. We had a great time, a very good conversation, and the conclusion is we are very close to each other. She is an absolute, magnificent young woman, and I am very proud to be her father.” The text had been sent by her father to his girlfriend back in 2018 after spending time with Hackett. Reading those words again years later brought a wave of emotion, but what truly broke her heart was realizing she could no longer remember the day those moments happened eight years ago.
Hackett described her father as someone who made everyday moments enjoyable. They spent a lot of time together doing simple activities like playing pickleball, gardening, and going out for dinner. She remembered him as loyal, generous, and dependable. Unfortunately, her father passed away suddenly in September 2025. Hackett was the one who discovered his body, a moment that changed her life instantly and left her struggling to process the loss.
In difficult times, people often look for ways to share their feelings and find support. After her father’s death, Hackett turned to social media as a way to cope with her grief. She started posting on TikTok and speaking openly about her experience. Through the platform, she found others who were also dealing with the loss of loved ones. Hackett expressed that these conversations helped her feel less alone.
The rediscovered text message came back to her unexpectedly when an old screenshot appeared in her Snapchat memories earlier this year. Hackett said she had saved the image years ago but had completely forgotten about it. When it appeared again, she immediately started crying. While she knew her father loved her deeply, seeing his words written so clearly felt validating. Moments like these often show how powerful written memories can be, especially after someone is gone.
Even though the message made her emotional, Hackett said it did not surprise her. Her father often told her how proud he was while he was alive. Still, the message remains something she will always hold close to her heart. She also expressed in the caption of the post, "To know that he spoke to others that way of me fills me with immense joy and sorrow that he is now gone forever. My grief is so raw, fresh, and painful. But to be loved like he loved me and my sister, stays forever."
For more such videos, you can follow @merry.hack on TikTok.