We knew.
She had been afraid.
She had been preparing.
She had been trying to protect her child.
And she had left us the truth.
But there was one question I couldn’t stop thinking about.
How had Lily known that Jason might hurt her?
That night, after the funeral, Mr.
Hayes came to our house.
He placed another envelope on the kitchen table.
“Lily asked me to give this to Emily only after Jason had been taken into custody.”
I looked at my mother.
Then my father.
Then I opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My sister’s handwriting.
The first line made my heart break.
“Dear Em,
If you’re reading this, I’m sorry.”
I sat down.
The letter was several pages long.
Lily explained everything.
She had discovered Jason’s affair four months before her death.
At first, she planned to leave.
Then she discovered the financial transfers.
Then the hidden property.
