When the Dust Settles

Brad’s apartment was quiet again, an eerie quiet. His three daughters had taken what they wanted of their father’s and returned to their own lives.

Ashley sat in the middle of the living room floor frowning, starring at the trunk. “It so sad that the girls were taught to be so disrespectful to their father who was so devoted to them. He spent every dime he had to find them, and when he did, his girls had been filled with lies, so many lies that they couldn’t or wouldn’t listen to the truth,” she told Prince, before opening the trunk.

The first thing Ashley saw was an envelope with her name on it. She slowly opened it.

Dear Ashley;

If you are reading this letter, it means that I have died. Eeverything in this trunk is a different part of my life and yours. You are the only one I can trust, and when you finish going through the trunk, you will know what I want you to do with the contents. Don’t rush through it looking for the answers that you now seek, take your time. And only go through it when you are alone.

By now my daughters have returned to their homes.  Knowing you as well as I do, I’m sure that you gave them free reign to take everything. That is why I insisted that you put the trunk in a place where no one knew it existed. I’m sure you didn’t even think of it until everything was quiet again.

I’ve known for a long time that I had cancer; it was my choice to let it grow, and not share my fate with you. I’m very tired, tired of the pain, the fight, and the loneliness. Forgive me for not telling you, and not taking any treatments that would have only prolonged my life. I’m sure that you will understand when you finish going through the trunk.

I want you to live. I want you to go out in life and really live. Don’t hide who you are, let go of the pain you carry, give people a chance and take some risks to find happiness. 

I love you, and I thank you with all my heart for being my little sister.  Brad

Ashley looked at Brad’s possessions in the trunk: a photo album and shoe boxes tied with string. An inexpensive watch, an old wedding ring, a set of keys and the letter she just read. All that remained of her brother’s life. Ashley picked up the photo album and rubbed her hand over the leather cover. She had never seen it before. She walked into the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee, and sat in the overstuffed chair by the window. Prince lumbered over to her and lay down at her feet.