POV: Sophie
The weight of the chest in my hands felt heavier than it should have, like the secrets inside it had the power to crush me. For the first time since I had discovered the letter during the mission, I hesitated. Was I really ready to dig this deep into my mother’s past? What if what I found destroyed everything I thought I knew?
But I couldn’t stop now. Not after coming this far.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, the chest resting on my lap, and carefully untied the ribbon holding the letters together. The paper was old, yellowed with age, but the handwriting was familiar. It was my mother’s. I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I unfolded the first letter.
My dearest Sophie,
I hope you never have to read this letter. I hope that by the time you’re old enough to understand
