That night, after the house settled into silence, he sat at the kitchen table, staring at the worn envelope. His wife, Lena, watched from the doorway. “You don’t have to do this tonight,” she said gently.
“I need to know.”
With a deep breath, he opened it.
Dear Staff Sergeant David Monroe,
If you’re reading this, I didn’t make it back.
David’s breath hitched. The handwriting was familiar—his best friend, Corporal Ryan Keller.
I need you to deliver a letter to my sister, Claire. She has no idea what happened. She deserves to hear it from someone who knew me.
One last thing—take care of yourself. Go home, love your family, and don’t waste a second. You always feared you wouldn’t know how to live a normal
