Chapter 2: Thirteen Years of Letters
Inside the box were letters.
Dozens of them.
All addressed to me.
All unopened.
My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold them.
"Dad…
these are from Carl."
He couldn't look at me.
"How long have you had these?"
He whispered, "Since the beginning."
I felt the room tilt.
Thirteen years of letters.
Thirteen years of silence I thought was his choice.
"You kept these from me?
Why?"
He finally looked up, and his eyes were wet.
"He asked me to protect you.
Both of you.
He said if you knew the truth, it would put you and Lily in danger."
"What truth?
What danger?"
He pointed to the envelope on top.
It was thicker than the others.
"Read that one first.
It explains everything."
I tore it open.
Inside was a letter — and a photograph.
The photograph showed Carl.
He looked older, thinner.
He was standing outside what looked like a hospital.
And he was holding a little girl's hand.
A girl who looked exactly like Emily.
I couldn't breathe.
"Dad." My voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Who is this child?"
He sat down heavily across from me and put his face in his hands.
"That's what I should have told you thirteen years ago."
---
What I read in that letter made my whole world fall apart.
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