Evening settled in, the house bathed in a soft glow as the family lingered, reluctant to let the celebration end. I found myself on the porch, the cool air a welcome relief from the warmth inside. My uncle joined me, his footsteps careful on the wooden boards.
« You read it? » he asked quietly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
« I did, » I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. « Why now, Dan? Why today? »
He sighed, a long, drawn-out breath that seemed to carry years of unspoken words. « You have a right to know, » he said simply. « And I thought it was time you heard it from us, not from someone else. »
His words were a reminder of how fragile the truth can be, how easily it can be hidden behind a facade of normalcy. « Does Grandpa know you gave this to me? » I asked, suddenly unsure.
Dan shook his head. « No, he doesn’t. And I’d prefer to keep it that way, at least for now. »
We stood in silence, the weight of the conversation heavy between us. I had so many questions, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear the answers. Not yet.
« Let’s not ruin the evening, » he said finally, his voice gentle. « There’s time to talk about this later. »
I nodded, knowing he was right. There would be time to untangle the past, to confront the truths hidden within that letter. But for now, I let the evening’s tranquility soothe the chaos in my mind.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
