I Became the Guardian of My Four Grandchildren at 71

My address. Nothing else.

It took all three men to carry it inside. They set it down in my living room and left.

I cut through the tape carefully and opened the top flap.

Right on top was a sealed envelope.

I pulled it out. My name was written on the front… in Darla’s handwriting.

I sat down on the couch and tore open the envelope with trembling fingers.

The letter was dated three weeks before she died. The first line made my heart stop.

“Mom, I know you’re probably confused right now. But if this box has been delivered to you, it means I’m no longer alive.”

I couldn’t breathe as I kept reading.

“There are things you never knew about me. I have to tell you the truth. You’ll understand everything once you open the package.”

The letter was dated three weeks before she died.

I set the letter down and looked back at the box.

What could be in there? What truth had Darla kept from me?

I thought about all the conversations we’d had in the months before she died.

She seemed tired and distracted. I’d chalked it up to work stress. Now I wondered what I’d missed.