Chapter 19 - The Final Letter
Years later, Julian found one final letter.
It had been hidden inside the wooden box from the blue room.
Claire sat beside him when he opened it.
The paper was fragile.
The handwriting was Claire’s.
But the date was from the night before she disappeared.
Julian read it aloud.
If you are reading this, then somehow we survived.
Maybe I am gone.
Maybe I came back.
Maybe our daughter is old enough to understand.
But I want her to know one thing.
She was never the reason I was afraid.
She was the reason I kept fighting.
Julian stopped.
Claire wiped her eyes.
He continued.
Love is not the person who promises never to leave.
Love is the person who finds a way back when leaving seems like the only way to save you.
Julian folded the letter.
Claire leaned against him.
“I wrote that.”
“I know.”
“I sound dramatic.”
“You were dramatic.”
She laughed.
He kissed her.
A moment later, Lily appeared in the doorway.
“What's that?”
Julian smiled.
“A letter from your mother.”
Lily walked over.
“Can I read it?”
“You can.”
She sat between them.
They read it together.
When they reached the final sentence, Lily looked up.
“What does it mean?”
Claire answered.
“It means family can lose its way.”
Julian added,
“But love can help it find the road again.”
Lily considered this.
Then she nodded.
“Like dancing?”
Julian smiled.
May you like
“Exactly like dancing.”
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