FORTY-SIX
Milan
PRESENT
My eyes race over the lines my brother left behind for me.
His familiar voice echoes in my head, and it feels like he’s here.
Alive.
Right in front of me.
As the paper slips quietly through my fingers, the silence between Aliya and me feels heavy. She sits across from me, saying nothing, giving me the time to take in the words.
A million questions swirl in my mind.
Where did she get these letters?
Why?
Since when?
Did she read them?
But I’m too caught up in the truths my brother could never tell me.
With each line, my chest tightens as his words sink deeper into me. My hands start to shake, making it harder to hold the pages.
When I reach the final letter, my heart pounds wildly.
This is it – his last words to me.
My brother’s final words.