Work Text:
The Cairo library had received more book donations, and Evelyn was thrilled. She was always happy when someone decided to donate books they don't want anymore, increasing the chance for more people to read the knowledge contained on each page.
Her fiancé, Rick, would soon arrive to take her out to dinner, but she at least wanted to take a look at the donations.
She began examining the books and noticed that most were American literature. Evelyn started flipping through one of the books to check the condition of the material when an old paper fell out. Intrigued, she picked it up and soon discovered it was a letter.
"Dear Lucy,
How are you? Yeah, your sister is still alive (somehow). I apologize for the delay in contacting you; my return to Cairo had some problems, but everything went well. And I know you all want to know how Richard is doing, so tell everyone that your nephew is doing great. Always causing trouble, just like we were at his age. The work is tiring, but my son's smile strengthens me. I tell him many stories, stories that mom and dad used to tell us while we watched the stars.
So yes, everything is right, but my dreams have returned. Remember when mom had a dream about us falling off a motorcycle decades before it happened? I dreamed about my son, he is an adult there. At first, I was unsure, but that man looks just like me, and I feel it's Rick.
He appears falling onto something; I can't identify where. Rocks fall everywhere like raindrops, and Rick seems to be shouting, but I can't hear what he's saying and my dream stops there. As you can guess, this gave me insomnia for quite a while. Mom used to say that our dreams are a gift, I find it a curse.
I want to talk to someone about it. Someone to give me answers about what this dream means, but even our family doesn't understand why these things happen to us. And I worry about my absence in this. My son is in danger and I'm not there to help him? Part of me fears I won't be alive when it happens, but I at least want to see Richard grow up. To see him doing well and happy.
I know you're very busy with your new job and everything, but I would really appreciate your opinion. You're the only one who understands me. We love ya!
From your annoying big sister,
Alexandra"
.
When Rick arrived at the library, he found his fiancée crying with a letter in her hands. Over the next hours, Rick would read that letter countless times while tears kept welling up in his eyes. It was as if his long-hidden pain had finally been washed from his body. He was loved. His family loved him.
That same letter would be kept in the O'Connell's home, and Rick would never tire of rereading it. Evelyn would stay by his side, comforting him.
He once had a loving family before losing everything, but now he's starting over. And one day Rick would read it to their son, Alexander.