My Sister Handed Me A Document And Said “You’ll Need This”—Then Left The Room

nahoko

The kitchen was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator, as I sat down at the table. My sister, Emma, wordlessly slid an envelope across the polished wood surface. It was a plain manila envelope, its flap sealed with a piece of scotch tape, and my name was scrawled across the front in her familiar handwriting. « You’ll need this, » she said, her voice unsettlingly calm. The date on the document inside—October 3rd, 2023—caught my attention immediately. It was from a lawyer’s office I didn’t recognize. Emma avoided my gaze as I skimmed the papers, her fingers drumming lightly on the table. The words « power of attorney » stood out, making my heart skip a beat. I wanted to ask questions, to demand explanations, but the room felt too fragile, like any sound might shatter something unspoken between us. Emma stood up and left the room, leaving me alone with the weight of the document in my hands. I tried to steady my breathing, knowing this was only the beginning of something much larger. Whatever it was, it demanded action, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t wait long.