The Unexpected Chance

The Letter

3 am. That’s the time I walk through the door to my shared apartment. My black hair is tied up in a bun and I’m still in my work uniform. Its not flashy, but it works for us. Sarah is our roommate and has been for the past 3 years. We share a two-bedroom apartment that has a simple small kitchen, bathroom and a living area with a single armchair and two-seater couch. We found them on sale at our local knock off shop. It’s all open so the kitchen flows straight into the living area, everything is grey, from the floors to the walls. The bedrooms are off to the right side of the apartment. It’s cheap but small. I was actually in the middle of searching for another place to live because while a small space like this is fine for two adults…its doesn’t come near enough room for two adults and two growing children. I sigh…man I am exhausted. When you’re a mother to two, you try work when you can where you can. I’m grateful that the place I work at is great. It’s a popular restaurant that’s been in their family for generations. Me and Sarah are both working there. I’ve made them my family….it took me a long time to accept their compliments and generosity, but I got there, and they have been amazing. Everybody there adore my children and are always asking where they can help out. I just don’t like that I need the help. I’ve had no one to help me since I first found out I was pregnant except Sarah. My parents disowned me and moved across the country, while I was 19 and was terrified. And when I tell you my life has been nothing but disappointment after disappointment, I’m not exaggerating. My parents we’re always actively chasing things…it was always money or their happiness. The disappointment though? That was me…I was never good enough, never done what they wanted me to do. You see…their happiness came in the form of everything and anything that could get their minds so far from this planet – it was impossible to see. It was impossible to see me…the six-year-old me, sitting in a corner with my legs tucked into my chest, so scared of what’s happening that she just wanted to close her eyes and wish for it to all go away, but also knowing it wouldn’t…and still not having her eyes closed just in case she missed something. Six-year-old me would sit there and watch to make sure her parents were still breathing. There eyes were open…but they couldn’t see. I knew I was never going to be anything like them. “Hey girl, kids were a dream. They had dinner and chilled the rest of the night, watched one of their movies.” I smile, its small but its there. “Thanks girl…I really appreciate you looking out.” And I am. For 3 years, Sarah has been our constant. It took me a long time to get use to someone being around. She’s a tough one Sarah…never gave up on trying with me and broke down every barrier I had set up and then the kids when they were born. She has trouble sleeping most nights…something about her childhood, she hasn’t said much, and I never ask. If or when she wants to talk, I’ll be there…always – but until then, I won’t push for anything. I owe her a lot. I take my shoes off and sit on one of the rusted bar stools by the counter and rest my arms on it. Sarah goes around and turn the kettle on and turns her head to look at me with a raised eyebrow. “I don’t know how you know what I need, but for the love of everything good yes please!” She chuckles, “you’re so predictable M. Normal people use this stuff to stay awake.” She’s busy making me a coffee and a hot chocolate for herself. Me and caffeine are long time buddies. Its like it knows what I need to. If I need to stay awake it works, and if I need to sleep it helps calm my nerves. “Shush, its my magical liquid gold and it does its job.” She takes the two steps it takes to get to the counter where I’m sitting and places my steamy cup in front of me. I take a huge whiff, mmm, smells good. My eyes close as I take my first sip. That’s a good cup of coffee that is. When I open my eyes, Sarah is staring at me, her head slightly tilted and her blonde hair up in a messy bun which is hanging in the same direction her head is tilted. “Sooo….you gonna open it?” She asks curiously. I look over to the small stack of mail the just sitting at the end of the counter. More specifically, the letter that’s sitting at the top which came 3 days ago that I still have yet to open. “You going to be up for a little while?” I look back to her and wait. “Yeah, I’m going to be up for a little, then try get some sleep. You need the room so you can open it?” I set my cup down and lean over to pick the letter up. It has my name and address printed on it and nothing on the back but a small weird looking logo that I can’t quite make out. I rip it open and pull out the single piece of paper that’s inside. I look into the envelope and a small company card is inside, so I pull that out too. It only has a number written on the front of it. I flip it over and its blank. Sarah lays her hand in front of me wanting to have a look at the card and I give it to her. “Weird.” She says, and I have to agree. I go and unfold the letter and it has a short message written.

“Dear Miss Silver

Please call the number on the card given to arrange a suitable time and date to sit down and work out the logistics of the estate and inheritance.

Look forward to hearing from you,

LGL”

They have the wrong person. My last name isn’t Silver, its Davies. My face scrunches up a bit and Sarah notices. “What’s it say?” I give her the paper to read but I tell her, “They have the wrong person, this isn’t for me.” She scans it quickly then grabs the envelope and holds it up to me, “it says right here on the front, Moon Davies, so I think this is for you. Maybe it’s some typo issue.” I’m staring at the card with the number on it when I decide its probably a mistake and they have got the wrong person. “I’ll ring this number in the morning and let them know they delivered the letter to the wrong person.” I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. I need a trim; it is getting too long. My appearance is quite strange, my hair is as black as night with waves, my skin looks like iv been out in the sun regularly, but I’m a natural tan color. Pair that with my eyes and I look decent, my darker skin makes my greyish-blue eyes pop. I’m 5’8 so taller than the average woman but I am confident in my body, I’ve learnt to accept my curves and slightly bigger body portions than before I was pregnant. I think I look okay, even after having twins. I check the time and its nearly 4am. “Okay girl, I’m going to quickly shower then hit the sack before the munchkins wake up.” I hop off the stool and walk to the sink to rinse my cup and turn to pick up the envelope and its contents. “Yeah sure, I’m going to try get some sleep.” She chuckles, “not too confident I will though. Night sweet cheeks.” “Goodnight sugar plum.” We both smile and shake our heads. I head to my room and slowly open my door, and sneak in to put the envelope up on one of the shelves, out of reach of the kids. Grabbing a tank, sleep shorts and underwear I sneak back out and quickly shower. I’m back in my room in no time, jumping into bed with both of my babies. The letter is still on my mind, I wonder who sent it and who its for…it has to be someone with a similar name as me…and living in the same area. I’m staring at the ceiling, that’s a lot of coincidences that have to be true. I cuddle my kids and close my eyes. I’m not going to get any answers until tomorrow, so sleep needs to take hold of me before my mind starts racing at 100 miles an hour. Kissing both kids’ heads, I lay my head down and drift off.