Chapter 19
1108 Words
Long after everyone had gone to bed, Asia remained awake.
The wooden box sat open on her bed.
Moonlight streamed through the large windows, casting a soft glow across the room and illuminating the items hidden inside.
For several minutes, she simply stared at them.She hadn't expected a simple box to feel so heavy.
It felt as though a piece of her father had been placed in her hands.
Slowly, she reached inside.
The first thing she picked up was an old photograph.
A small smile tugged at her lips.She couldn't have been older than six.
Her front tooth was missing.
Her hair was uneven because she had apparently decided to cut part of it herself.
Beside her stood her father.
Laughing.
The kind of laugh that reached his eyes.The kind of laugh she had inherited.
Asia found herself smiling wider.
She remembered that day.
She had cried for almost three hours because she thought losing a tooth meant she was falling apart.
Her father had bought her two ice creams and somehow convinced her it was the coolest thing that had ever happened.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"You spoiled me."
The empty room offered no answer,Still she could almost hear his voice.
The thought tightened her chest.
She carefully set the photograph aside and reached for another.
There were dozens of them.
Family vacations,Birthday parties’School performances.every Tiny moments she had forgotten existed.
Moments her father had apparently decided were important enough to keep forever.
Her father had loved her like that.
A few minutes later, she discovered a small stack of certificates.
Report cards.
Old academic awards.
Even a participation ribbon from a spelling competition she hadn't won.
Asia stared at it.
Then burst out laughing.
"You kept this?"
A tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it and She wiped it away immediately.
Then continued searching through the box.
At the very bottom, beneath a stack of photographs, she found something unexpected.
An envelope.
Asia frowned as she carefully lifted it.
Her breath caught instantly.
Written across the front in familiar handwriting were two simple words.
For Asia.
Her fingers tightened around the envelope.
For several seconds, she simply stared at it.
Her father's handwriting.A handwriting she hadn't seen in years.
Suddenly, her heart was pounding.
Slowly, she opened it.
Inside was a folded letter.The paper had yellowed slightly with age.
Taking a deep breath, she unfolded it and began to read.
“My Little Star,
If you're reading this, then your grandmother has finally decided you're old enough for me to stop embarrassing you with fatherly advice.
I argued with her, by the way.
I said you'd always be my little girl.
She disagreed.
As usual, she won”.
Asia laughed through her tears.That sounded exactly like them.
She continued reading.
“There are many things I hope for you.
I hope you're happy.
I hope you're healthy.
I hope you're surrounded by people who make your life brighter rather than heavier.
Most importantly, I hope you've never forgotten how extraordinary you are”.
Asia's smile slowly faded.The words felt strangely personal as though he were sitting beside her speaking directly to her.
“You have always been stronger than you realize.
Smarter than you believe.
Kinder than most people deserve.
Never let anyone convince you otherwise.
Never make yourself smaller so someone else can feel bigger”.
Something inside her chest tightened painfully.The words echoed through her mind.
“Never make yourself smaller”.
How many years had she done exactly that?
How many years had she bent herself into impossible shapes trying to fit into someone else's world?
Trying to earn love.
Trying to become enough.
A fresh tear rolled down her cheek.
Then another.
And when you choose the person you spend your life with, choose someone who chooses you back everyday.
Without hesitation.
---
Asia's vision blurred.
She had to stop reading for a moment.The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Eventually, she folded the letter carefully and pressed it against her chest.
For a long time, she sat there.
Simply holding it.
Missing him.
The following morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Asia woke later than usual.
The letter remained on the bedside table.The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes.
A small smile touched her lips.
After getting dressed, she headed downstairs.
Her grandmother was already sitting on the terrace drinking tea.
"Good morning."
The older woman looked up.
"Did you sleep at all?"
Asia laughed.
"A little."
"You found the letter."
Asia nodded.
Then her grandmother smiled.
"He wrote that years before he passed away."
Asia looked down.
"I wish he'd given it to me himself."
"So do I."
Silence settled briefly between them then Asia remembered something.
"The photographs."
Her grandmother raised an eyebrow.
"What about them?"
"There was one I didn't recognize."
The older woman looked thoughtful.
"Which one?"
Asia pulled out her phone and showed her a picture she had taken.
A photograph from an old charity gala.
Her father stood near the center.
Several businessmen surrounded him.
Among them was a familiar face she just couldn’t identify yet.
“He looks really familiar…” Asia gently pointed at the man in the photo”.
Her grandmother adjusted her glasses.
"Oh."
"You remember it?"
"Of course."
The older woman smiled.
"That was years ago."
Asia studied the photograph again just as her grandmother leaned closer.
"That's one of the Morgan boys."
Asia frowned.
"Morgan…boys ?"
The older woman nodded.
"Mhm."
“They own the mental hospital your mother is in,they’ve been really good friends of your mom and the family even before what happened “.
Then the older woman immediately returned to her tea as though the information wasn't important.
Asia looked at the photograph one last time.
Then shrugged.
Apparently it wasn't important.
A few hours later, her phone rang.
The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number.
Asia answered.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Richmore."
The voice belonged to her newly assigned secretary from Glanton Industries.
Clara.
Immediately, Asia straightened.
"Clara”.
"I'm sorry to disturb your weekend."
The younger woman sounded nervous,Which instantly caught Asia's attention.
"What happened?"
There was a brief pause.
Then clara took a breath.
"Mr. Glanton has requested your immediate return to the city."
Asia frowned,Her relaxed mood disappeared instantly.
"Why?"
Another pause.
When Emily finally spoke, her voice was careful.
"Because there has been a significant change regarding the Carter Corporation partnership meeting."
The smile disappeared from Asia's face completely.
Across the table, her grandmother noticed immediately.And suddenly, the peaceful weekend no longer felt quite so peaceful.
- Writer
