Chapter 20 - The Letters That Never Left Town
Silence swallowed the living room.
Rebecca's face remained composed, but the color had drained from it.
Daniel carefully untied the faded ribbon holding Lily's letters together.
The oldest envelope had been written in uneven handwriting.
She had been only seven.
> Dear Dad,
>
> Aunt Rebecca says you're too busy to write back. I hope you're eating enough. I watered your favorite tree today. I think it's growing because it's waiting for you too.
Daniel closed his eyes.
He had written back.
Every month.
He had never stopped.
He opened another letter.
Then another.
Each one revealed another year of Lily's life.
The handwriting gradually matured, but the hope inside the letters slowly faded.
One letter simply read:
> Maybe I wasn't good enough.
Another ended with only four words.
> Please don't forget me.
Daniel's hands trembled so violently that Samuel quietly took the remaining stack before they slipped to the floor.
Mr. Harris stepped forward.
"I argued with them."
"They told me Lily had emotional problems."
"They claimed sending letters overseas only upset her."
"I believed them at first."
He lowered his head.
"But then I saw bruises."
Rebecca finally spoke.
"You have no proof that I stopped those letters."
Mr. Harris reached into his satchel once more.
"I kept copies."
He produced an old postal logbook.
Every outgoing international letter had been recorded by hand.
Beside Lily's name appeared the same instruction dozens of times.
Hold for family collection.
Each order carried the same signature.
Rebecca Carter.
Samuel immediately photographed every page.
Without raising his voice, Daniel asked only one question.
"Why?"
Rebecca looked away.
May you like
She had no answer that could survive the evidence now lying on the table.
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