CHAPTER 2 — THE BOX OF LOST LETTERS
CHAPTER 2 — THE BOX OF LOST LETTERS
Michael stared at the wooden box sitting on the floor.
His name was written across the top.
Not printed.
Handwritten.
His handwriting.
The same handwriting Emily used to keep framed beside their wedding photo.
For a moment, he couldn’t move.
Because he already knew what was inside.
His letters.
The ones he wrote during lonely nights overseas.
The ones he sent when explosions shook the ground beneath him.
The ones where he told Emily how much he loved her.
Margaret suddenly stepped forward.
“Michael, don’t open that.”
The command in her voice surprised him.
Not concern.
Fear.
Michael slowly turned around.
“Why?”
Margaret froze.
“I… I can explain.”
“No.”
His voice became colder.
“First, I want to know why my mother is afraid of a box with my name on it.”
Emily covered her mouth.
Tears rolled down her face.
“I never saw those letters.”
Michael looked at her.
“What?”
Emily shook her head.
“I waited every day.”
Her voice broke.
“I thought you stopped writing.”
The room became silent.
Michael opened the box.
Inside were dozens of envelopes.
All addressed to Emily.
All unopened.
Fourteen months of love.
Fourteen months of promises.
Hidden away.
Michael picked up the first letter.
The date was from his second month overseas.
Emily touched her chest.
“She told me you forgot about me.”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
His mother had stolen his words.
And replaced them with lies.
Then Michael found something else.
A small notebook.
A list.
Dates.
Names.
And one sentence written by Margaret:
“Keep them separated until he returns.”
May you like
Michael looked up.
His mother’s secret had just become something much darker.
