Inside the box was an old diary.
Travis's father's diary.
His mother finally confessed that years ago, she had discovered her husband was responsible for the disappearance of the woman Travis had once loved.
She had spent years hiding the truth to protect her son.
But when she saw Travis falling in love with me, fear took over.
She thought losing me was better than losing him.
Travis held my hand.
“You should have trusted me,” he told her.
His mother cried.
“I was afraid.”
I understood then.
Her hatred had never truly been hatred.
It had been fear wearing an ugly disguise.
Months later, Travis and I stood beneath the same rainy sky where everything had begun.
He looked at me and smiled.
“Still think my mother wanted you out of my life?”
I laughed.
“She wanted me gone.”
He kissed my forehead.
“And yet you're still here.”
I rested my head against his chest.
“Because you asked me to stay.”
And this time, there was nothing left for us to fear.
