Chapter 11%
The morning sun filtered through Aunt May’s floral curtains, soft and unbothered by last night’s heaviness.5
Sophie had fallen asleep in my arms after everything she said, how she missed me, how she never stopped watching How she loved me. I barely slept, but I didn’t feel tired. I felt new
Aunt May was already in the kitchen when I padded in, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. She slid a warm mug of tea into my hands like she always did when I needed grounding
“I heard voices,” she said gently, not pushing
I smiled faintly. “She told me the truth.“N
Aunt May gave a single nod and said nothing more.
Sophie wandered in minutes later, hair a mess and eyes still sleepy. But she looked lighter. Like some light knot had loosened in her chest.N
“You’re up early,” she mumbled.N
“You’re one to talk,” I teased.
She gave a small smile and reached for a banana from the fruit bowl. “Can we go through the box today?“%
My hand paused over my tea. “What box?“R
“The one under the sunroom chair,” she said. “I saw it last night. It has your name written on one of the letters. In your handwriting“%
I blinked. I didn’t think she’d ever noticed that box, my private stack of unsent letters.
want to know what you couldn’t say out loud,” she added.
There was no accusation in her tone, just… want.}
We sat in the sunroom that afternoon, just me, Sophie, and the box. I handed her the top letter, the newest one, and watched her read it in silence.N
She didn’t cry. She just held it like something sacred.
“Can I keep this one?” she asked.M
“You can keep them all,” I said again.8)
She dug deeper, pulling out more envelopes, dozens of them. Some addressed to her, some to Marcus, some to Isabelle./
Sophie looked up. “You really didn’t think we wanted you?“W
“I didn’t think I had the right to want anything,” I said, voice low. “I didn’t think I was allowed to want love.”
She scooted closer to me, resting her head against my arm. “I’m sorry I made you feel like that.”
I kissed her forehead. “It’s not your job to carry my hurt.”
She opened one. Then another. And another.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in that room, Laughing sometimes. Crying more.
Aunt May came in and sat with us, not interrupting. Just existing with us in the warmth of that quiet, golden hour.”
Later, over dinner, Sophie helped Aunt May cook lemon chicken, her favorite, even though she claimed she didn’t like chicken last month. We set the table and lit a candle like it was a special occasion. In a way, it was.
It was the first night Sophie laughed without biting her tongue afterward.
After dinner, I stepped outside onto the porch. I needed air. Not escape but just to breathe.
Sophie joined me, a notebook clutched in her hand. “I want to write to you too,” she said.
I didn’t know how to answer that. My throat closed up.M
Aunt May leaned beside the door and smiled at Sophie like she’s proud of her daughter achieving something.
But before anything else, I asked her what I wanted to ask last night.
“Did you get to see a closer look of what she took?” A small chill worked up my spine.
Sophie shook her head. “It was a piece of paper. A letter.“@
My heart skipped. I hadn’t left anything valuable behind, or so I thought, But if Ava had taken a letter…
Aunt May raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say Isabelle had written something once? A final letter? You never found it.“#
I nodded slowly, “I searched the house after she died, but nothing.”
Sophie looked up. “And Ava found it?”
The question hung between us, souring the warmth just slightly.
Then, headlights cut through the dusk.
A car pulled into Aunt May’s driveway. I knew that sound. The hum of an engine I’d listened to for years.!
Marcus stepped out, silhouetted against the warm porch light.
He didn’t look broken. Just quiet. Present.
Sophie didn’t wait. She ran to him and threw her arms around his waist.!!
Marcus held her tightly. murmuring something into her hair.
212
65 0%
Marcus held her tightly, murmuring something into her hairs
Then he looked at me!
“I didn’t come to beg” he said, stepping onto the porch.
“Then why did you come?” I asked %
Marcus looked away “I just want to come home“%
I stared at him “This isn’t your house“%
“Ho” he said, “but i realized I didn’t have one either. Not since you left.“%
We stood in silence for a beat too long %
Sophie looked between us, then back at him. “Did Ava leave?”
He hesitated “Yes.“%
But something in his eyes told me it wasn’t the full story%
Sophie tugged on my sleeve, whispering, “If she still has that letter, we need it.“%
I nodded %
Whatever Ava had, whatever truth was still being held hostage, wasn’t done with us yet.%
And now, I need it 100%
“There’s something you need to know about Ava“%
11:16 AM
