I didn’t even have time to process what was happening before a doctor approached me.
“We’ve stabilized him,” he said. “But he needs to stay overnight for observation.”
I was led into the room where Josh lay, pale and fragile, hooked up to machines that beeped softly in the background.
When he saw me, he weakly motioned for me to come closer.
“I have to tell you something,” he whispered.
“What is it, Josh?” I asked as I sat beside him.
“I have cancer, Lauren.
Late-stage. The doctors say I don’t have much time.”
“Cancer?” I repeated. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I didn’t want you and Chloe to think I came back because I needed something,” he said.
“I didn’t want to burden you more than I already have.”
“You… you left us, Josh,” I managed to speak, staring into his eyes. “You left me to raise Chloe alone, and now you’re back because you’re dying? Do you have any idea what we’ve been through?”
He winced at my words but didn’t look away.
“I know I hurt you, Lauren,” he whispered.
“But back then, I thought leaving was the right thing to do. I felt like a failure. As a husband.
As a father… I couldn’t provide for you the way you deserved. My anxiety convinced me that you were better off without me. After all, our arguments never seemed to end.”
“Better off?” I snapped as tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Chloe grew up wondering why her dad didn’t want her. We could’ve worked everything out.”
“I know,” he said, his voice breaking. “I wanted to come back so many times, but I was ashamed.
And then… this illness forced me to confront the truth. I couldn’t leave this world without making things right with Chloe.”
I didn’t know what to say after that. We stayed silent for a few minutes as I processed my feelings.
“What am I supposed to tell Chloe now?” I finally asked.
“Tell her I came back because I love her,” he cried.
That evening, I sat down with Chloe and gently explained what was happening.
She was hurt, confused, and angry all at once.
“Why did he have to wait until now? Why couldn’t he come back when I was little?”
“I don’t know, sweetie. People don’t always make the right choices, even when they mean well.”
My little girl was angry, but she didn’t let it control her decision.
She understood her father was in a difficult position, so she agreed to forgive him.
She wanted to spend what time they had left together.
In the following weeks, Josh made every effort to bond with Chloe. He played board games with her, cheered her on at her soccer matches, and even helped her bake cookies for a school fundraiser.
One Saturday afternoon, Chloe found Josh writing at the dining table.
“What are you doing, Dad?” she asked curiously.
“I’m writing letters for you,” he smiled. “For all the big moments in your life.
Your graduation, your wedding, or just a day when you need a reminder of how much I love you.”
“But you don’t need to leave me notes,” Chloe said as she sat beside him. “I just want you to stay.”
Those words broke my heart.
Unfortunately, Josh passed away a few months later. He was happy, knowing he was surrounded by the two most important people in his life during the last moments of his life.
After his death, Chloe clung to the letters he left behind, often reading them aloud.
One evening, she turned to me and said, “I know he wasn’t perfect, but he loved me in the end.
That’s what I’ll hold on to.”
I smiled through my tears and pulled her into a hug. I felt incredibly proud of the compassion and resilience Chloe had inherited.
As for me, I’ve also forgiven my ex-husband, and it has given me the peace to move forward in my life. I’m grateful fate gave me a chance to answer the questions that had been worrying me for ten years.
We stood in the schoolyard under the dark sky, our class gathered in secret.
I felt nervous, hoping no one would find us.
“Dig faster!” Jess, my best friend, ordered, her voice sharp and impatient.
“If you’re so clever, do it yourself!” Malcolm snapped, his shovel pausing mid-air.
Jess rolled her eyes. “I have a manicure and white sneakers. You know I can’t.
These boys are useless,” she added, glancing at me.
I smiled faintly, trying to hide my unease. My eyes stayed on Brian, who stood a few steps away, looking at the ground.
He was my boyfriend, but that night, something felt wrong. He hadn’t said a word to me.
I’d tried to ask him what was going on, but every time, he turned away.
“Done!” Malcolm yelled, pulling me from my thoughts.
The capsule was open. Everyone tossed in little keepsakes and letters. I held the locket Brian had won for me at the fair.
It was special to me, but now it felt heavy.
I dropped it in and walked back to Brian.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?” I asked, stepping closer to Brian. He stayed quiet, his eyes focused somewhere far away. “Brian, what’s wrong?
Can you just explain what’s going on?” I pressed, my voice shaking.
Without a word, he turned and started to walk away.
“You promised to love me my whole life! Are those words meaningless now?!” I shouted after him, my voice breaking.
Brian stopped and turned around. His eyes met mine, cold and distant.
“You ruined everything yourself,” he said, his tone flat. Then he turned away again.
15 years later…
I sat in front of my laptop, staring at Malcolm’s email. It felt strange hearing from him after all this time.
The email was simple, reminding me that in two days, we were supposed to dig up the time capsule we’d buried as teenagers.
I tried to remember what I had put inside but couldn’t.
That night had left a scar.
I’d lost Brian, my first love, in a way I never fully understood. Then Jess, my best friend, had betrayed me, leaving me feeling utterly alone.
Maybe it was time to face the past. My fingers hovered over the keyboard before I finally typed, “I’ll be there.”
***
I hadn’t been back to my hometown in what felt like a lifetime.
After I left for college, my parents moved away, and I never found a reason to return.
But there I was. As I approached my old school, unease crept over me. The building looked smaller than I remembered, but the memories were still vivid.
I was about to face people who had once been a huge part of my life.
I greeted a few classmates who had already gathered, including Malcolm.
He smiled warmly.
There was still no sign of Jess or Brian. We decided to start searching for the capsule without them. None of us could remember the exact spot, so the digging dragged on.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Jess and Brian walking toward us.
My heart clenched before I could stop it. Were they still together?
I didn’t expect to care after all these years, but I did. When Brian moved closer, my pulse quickened.
He didn’t look at me, though, brushing past as if I weren’t there.
Jess, on the other hand, greeted me with a smile, acting like nothing had ever happened. It stung.
Finally, someone shouted, “I found it!” Everyone rushed over, excitement buzzing.
The capsule was opened, and memories spilled out. I reached for my locket, the one Brian had won for me.
As I held it, my eyes caught something else—a letter with my name on it.
My hands trembled as I picked it up and stepped aside.
Opening the envelope, I immediately recognized the handwriting. It was Jess’s.
Hey, Amelia,
If you’re reading this, it means 15 years have passed, and maybe this letter will make things clearer, though I doubt it will make anything better.
I don’t even know how to start explaining why I did what I did.
The truth is, I don’t have a good reason. I don’t even feel guilty right now, not entirely.
I know why Brian stopped talking to you. It was me.
I started a rumor about you and Malcolm.
I even forged messages to make it seem true. It was cruel, I know, but I wanted Brian.
I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just hope you understand.
Your not-so-great friend,
Jess
My hands shook as I read the letter, each word hitting me like a punch. I didn’t notice Brian standing beside me until he spoke.
“Amelia, I saw the locket in the capsule.
I… I don’t know why, but seeing you today—” he started, his
