Chapter 9 - ALESSANDRA'S LETTER
Marco's trial exposed everything.
Celeste accepted a plea agreement for fraud and conspiracy.
Dr. Lang lost his medical license and faced criminal charges.
Nicholas testified.
Jonathan did too.
Then, while clearing Alessandra's old desk, Gabriel found a letter.
Not hidden dramatically.
Not inside a secret wall.
Simply stuck behind a drawer.
Gabriel,
If you are reading this, then I either finally became brave enough to give it to you, or life made the decision for me.
He sat down.
Emma found him twenty minutes later.
He handed her the letter.
She didn't read it.
“It's yours.”
“Stay.”
So she did.
Alessandra had written about Lily.
About Gabriel.
About fear.
You keep trying to build walls high enough that nothing can reach us.
But Gabriel, walls work both ways.
Sometimes they keep danger out.
Sometimes they keep love from getting in.
He stopped.
Emma touched his hand.
The final paragraph broke him.
If anything happens to me, do not make our daughters spend their childhood paying for your grief.
Let Sophia be loud.
Let Lily fall.
Let them know their father is frightened sometimes.
And please, for the love of God, learn how to make breakfast.
Gabriel laughed while crying.
Emma smiled.
“She knew you.”
“Apparently.”
“Can you make breakfast now?”
“No.”
“So we've identified the remaining tragedy.”
He kissed her.
Later, he took the letter to the twins.
They were too young to understand most of it.
He read it anyway.
Sophia interrupted four times.
Lily fell asleep against his chest.
May you like
It was perfect.
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