The mystery with which he had lived for forty years suddenly made sense.
Rebecca continued in a low voice:
“I only knew one name... Giselle.
He told me that he had left her at the prom while running back to the store to find a gift that, by mistake, he thought he left in his truck. He had promised to return in five minutes, and each of his words made it clear that he was desperate to return to her. I searched the news of the newspapers, but there were several girls named Giselle in neighboring counties, and I never knew which of them Michael was referring to.”
I felt my heart sink like a stone.
“Then my husband was offered work in another state. We moved out. I kept the handkerchief. And the flower."
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
“My grandmother kept saying, ‘When I know enough... I’ll find her.’” Rebecca looked down. “Life was on the course. Every year it was harder to admit that another year had passed.”
