Chapter 1: The Letter
Chapter 1: The Letter
The boutique remained frozen in silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The elegant woman stared at the little girl as if she had seen a ghost.
"What... did you say?" she whispered.
The girl bent down and picked up the handbag that had fallen to the floor. Her trembling fingers reached inside a hidden pocket.
Carefully, she pulled out an old envelope.
The paper was yellowed with age.
The corners were worn.
It had been opened and folded so many times that it looked ready to fall apart.
"My mother gave me this before she died," the girl said.
The woman felt her knees weaken.
The handwriting on the envelope was instantly familiar.
She had not seen it in over ten years.
But she recognized it.
It belonged to Sarah.
Her former roommate.
The only person who knew the truth.
The little girl handed over the letter.
With shaking hands, the woman unfolded it.
As she read, tears filled her eyes.
The letter revealed a secret she had spent years trying to forget.
Eighteen years ago, when she was young, frightened, and alone, she had given birth to a baby girl.
Believing she could never provide the life her daughter deserved, she signed adoption papers and walked away.
But the adoption had never been completed.
Sarah had taken the baby and raised her herself.
And now Sarah was gone.
The last line of the letter read:
"If you are reading this, I am no longer here. Her name is Lily. She deserves to know the truth. Please don't turn her away again."
The woman lowered the letter.
May you like
Across from her stood the daughter she had lost.
And the daughter she never expected to find.
