CHAPTER 3 — THE LETTER HER MOTHER LEFT BEHIND
CHAPTER 3 — THE LETTER HER MOTHER LEFT BEHIND
The father stared at the bracelet.
"I buried this with my wife."
"No," the boy answered gently.
"You buried another one."
A ripple of confusion spread through the guests.
The boy carefully reached back into the wooden box.
Beneath the bracelet lay an old envelope.
Its edges were yellow with age.
Across the front were six handwritten words.
For Emily... when she finds him.
The father's knees nearly gave out.
He recognized the handwriting instantly.
His wife's.
Claire.
His late wife.
His trembling fingers could barely open the envelope.
Inside rested a folded letter.
He began reading aloud.
If you're reading this... then our children have finally found each other.
The father stopped breathing.
Children.
Plural.
The room erupted into whispers.
He kept reading.
Before I married you, I was nineteen.
I gave birth to a little boy.
I was forced to give him away.
I searched for him every year.
I never stopped.
I never told you because I was ashamed... and because I was afraid someone would take Emily too.
If fate ever reunites them... please don't separate them again.
They deserve each other.
Forgive me.
— Claire
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The father lowered the letter.
His hands shook uncontrollably.
He looked at the boy.
"What... is your name?"
The boy smiled for the first time.
A small.
Gentle smile.
"Ethan."
Emily whispered it immediately.
"Ethan..."
As if she had always known.
Then she did something no one expected.
She walked forward.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And wrapped both arms around him.
May you like
For the first time since losing her mother...
Emily smiled.
