I read Caleb’s sentence three times.
What happened between us began long before either family knew we were both running out of time.ad
My hands shook so badly the paper rattled.
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I looked at Emily’s mother.
“You said they knew each other.”
She nodded.
“My name is Laura Carter.”
Her voice trembled.
“Emily met Caleb almost a year ago.”
Almost a year.
That meant before Caleb collapsed.
Before the doctors.
Before I knew anything was wrong.
“How?”
Laura wiped her face.
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“At a hospital volunteer program.”
I stared at her.
“Caleb never volunteered at a hospital.”
“Yes, he did.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Every Saturday, Caleb had told me he was working extra hours at a bookstore across town.
Apparently, that had been another lie.
Laura continued.
“Emily had already been diagnosed with severe cardiomyopathy. She was spending more and more time at the hospital.
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Caleb volunteered there reading to younger patients.”
I looked back down at the letter.
Suddenly, I remembered all those Saturdays.
Caleb coming home late.
Sometimes quiet.
Sometimes strangely happy.
Once, I had caught him smiling at his phone.
“Girl?” I teased.
He had turned red.
“Maybe.”
I never asked again.
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Now I wished I had.
Laura gave a sad smile.
“Emily said Caleb was the first person who stopped treating her like she was dying.”
I couldn’t speak.
“They became friends first. Then more than friends.”
My throat tightened.
“My son was in love with your daughter?”
Laura nodded.
“They were.”
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I closed my eyes.
Caleb had fallen in love.
One of the things I had feared he would never experience had already happened.
And I hadn’t known.
I returned to his letter.
Mom, I didn’t tell you about Emily because I knew what you would do. You would love her.
You would start imagining a future for us.
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And when I learned I was sick too, I couldn’t bear to watch you lose that future twice.
Tears fell onto the page.
That sounded exactly like him.
Always protecting me when I was supposed to protect him.
The letter continued.
Emily knew about my diagnosis before you did.
I told her because she already understood what it feels like when doctors stop talking about years and start talking about months.
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I covered my mouth.
Laura sat beside me.
