Page 33 of My Father's Closet

But about everything.

And that scared me.

Because I didn’t know if I was reaching out for answers — or reaching out for him.

How to start that kind of conversation?

I clicked open the message again.

“I knew someone named Rick — he meant a lot to me.I’m not sure what you’re looking for either, but I’m here.And I’m real.For whatever that’s worth.”

I read it five times.

Then opened a blank reply.

Typed:

I stared at the words.Mulling them over.It didn’t help.They still felt wrong.

I deleted them.

Typed again:

I hovered over send.

Then I closed the laptop.

Not yet.

Not tonight.

Some things were too big for words.

And some connections needed time to bloom.

CHAPTER 10