Later, while tidying up, I opened a drawer and found something I hadn’t seen before—a birthday card, addressed to me in Karen’s handwriting. My hands shook as I unfolded it. Inside were words I’d longed to hear: apologies, love, and an address in Canada. She hadn’t turned away from me after all. The card had simply never arrived. For the first time in years, something stirred in me—hope.
The next morning, I told Brad I needed to go. We drove to see my ex-husband, Nigel. When I showed him the card, his face fell. He admitted he’d forgotten to pass it along. My heart ached, but the message inside gave me courage. Karen had written that she missed me. That she wanted me to come. That night, I packed a bag, ready to cross the distance between us.
