Chapter 1 — The Box Beneath the Stairs
Michael rushed downstairs two steps at a time.
Margaret stood beside the old storage cabinet beneath the staircase.
Its wooden door had fallen open.
Boxes were scattered across the floor.
One small cedar chest had broken apart when it hit the hardwood.
Hundreds of envelopes spilled across the room.
Michael stopped.
Every envelope carried the same handwriting.
His own.
Every one was addressed to Emily.
Some were stained from rain.
Others still carried military postal markings from overseas.
Emily slowly covered her mouth.
"My letters..."
Michael knelt beside the pile.
He picked up the first envelope.
Across the front, someone had written in red ink:
RETURNED TO SENDER.
But it had never been returned.
The envelope had never even been opened.
He looked at his mother.
"What is this?"
Margaret's lips trembled.
"I..."
Emily whispered from behind him.
"I never received them."
Michael opened another box.
More letters.
Dozens.
Then another.
Photographs.
Birthday cards.
A tiny silver necklace he had mailed for their anniversary.
Everything Emily believed he had forgotten.
Everything he had actually sent.
May you like
Margaret had hidden every piece of it.
For fourteen months.
