For the past three months, every night I have been smelling a strange smell. It’s not a typical body odor. It was like the smell of mold mixed with a strong, pungent smell clinging to the blankets, to the bedsheet, and especially to the part of the bed where Miguel was sleeping.

I know you are going to be angry.

Or you might get hurt.

But before you make a judgment, read it to the end.

The money in the mattress does not come from crime.

It also doesn’t come from cheating.

It’s money I’ve been saving for years.

For something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

You know how hard my life was when I was a kid.

I grew up in a small village in Cebu.

A lot of my childhood friends at the time didn’t get to school.

It’s not that they don’t want to.

But because they don’t have any money.

When I graduated from college and started making money, I promised myself that one day, I would build a school for underprivileged children.

I didn’t tell you because I was scared.

I was afraid you might think I was crazy.

Or maybe you’re going to stop me because it’s a huge amount of money needed.

So I secretly saved.

I secretly traveled to Cebu to buy land.

And I secretly built a small school.

It’s coming to an end.

The mattress money was the last straw to keep the school open.

The smell you smell comes from some old documents and wet money that has been hidden for a long time.

I’m sorry if I get mad every time you clean the bed.

I was just scared that you might see everything right away before I was ready to tell the truth.

I plan to tell you all about it next month.

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary.

I want to go to school with you.

You are the first one I want to be a part of.

If you’re still mad after reading this, I can understand.

But I hope, in spite of everything, you know that I didn’t do it just for my dreams.

But it is also for both of our families.

I love you so much.

Miguel.”

 

 

I ended up reading that I didn’t realize I was crying.

I held the letter tightly.

I felt like a huge rock had fallen from my chest.

For three months…

I thought he was hiding something wrong.

I thought he had a different family.

I thought he was lying.

But the truth is…

He had a hidden dream.

I sat down on the floor and looked around the room.

Sa kama.

On the mattress that is now open.

With bundles of money and documents scattered on the floor.

I smiled even though I had tears in my eyes.

“You’re really crazy, Miguel,” I whispered.

 

 

 

The next morning, I barely slept.

I read the letter over and over again.

Then I sorted out all the contents of the bag.

I carefully returned the documents.

But I didn’t close the mattress anymore.

Instead, I put it all in one box.

I figured that when Michael got home, we would have to talk about everything.