29/12/2024
I FOUND A HIDDEN LIST WITH MY NAME IN MY LATE FATHER'S HOUSE
Dad was always my rock, my guide. Months had passed since his funeral, but standing here, the weight of his absence felt unbearable. The house was eerily empty… but I told myself I could do this.
I slowly sifted through his old belongings. So many childhood memories were tucked away here: old postcards, photo albums, and my favorite childhood book. A soft smile touched my lips as my fingers traced its worn cover.
I opened it. Dad used to read this to me, and a tear slipped down my cheek as memories flooded back. Then something slipped from between the pages... a piece of paper! I bent down, picked it up, and held it in my hands.
My heart skipped a beat. There was my name, written in Dad’s familiar handwriting, but below it were four names I didn’t recognize: Cecelia, Robert, John, and Margaret.
I flipped the paper over, searching for a clue, but the back was blank. "What is this?" I whispered. It felt like a puzzle, a secret Dad had left behind... I couldn’t let it go. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone.
"Mom, do you remember that childhood book?" I asked, my voice unsteady. "I found a piece of paper inside. It has five names: mine, and four others—Cecelia, Robert, John, and Margaret." I paused, my heart racing. "Do you know who they are?"
There was a long silence. Finally, a voice, low and heavy, broke through. "Kate…" she said softly. "You weren’t supposed to find that."👇