Chapter: The Sealed Envelope

It was just another afternoon, one of those when Olivia tried to stay busy without much success. Matías had called her early and asked her to come by his house; he said he had something for her—something Tom had entrusted him with "just in case."

When she arrived, Matías looked serious, holding a small box in his hands. He looked at her as if searching for the exact moment to let go of something that weighed too much.

"He gave it to me a few months before..." he said without finishing the sentence. "He asked me to give it to you when I felt you were ready. And today... today you are."

Olivia took it with trembling hands. When she opened the box, she found a wax-sealed envelope. Her name was written in Tom's unmistakable handwriting. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened it.

Inside, a letter:

"My Oli,

If you're reading this, then life did its thing. And even though I don't like saying it this way, I want you to know I loved you with everything I had. I wanted a future with you, but I didn't know if I'd get one. That's why I wrote this. Because if I couldn't give you words anymore, I'd at least leave you mine.

I saved things for you. Some are hidden. Others are with people who know me well. And each one has a little piece of me. Not because I want you to remember me, but because I want you to remember you—strong. Brave. Mine.

There's a blue notebook on my shelf, behind my philosophy books. It's full of things I never told you. I also left something in box 43 of that old mailbox where we used to leave silly letters for fun. Yes, I still have the key. It's yours now. It's inside the drawer of my nightstand, along with a ring that holds a promise I didn't get to fulfill.

I love you. Still. Always.

—Tom."

Olivia cried in silence, clutching the envelope, the smell of the paper, the echo of his words. Every line was a hug, every phrase a goodbye he hadn't dared to say out loud.

And that night, as every time something new from Tom touched her soul, she wrote another letter.