I was a widow and I didn’t allow any man to touch me for six years — until, during a vacation, I met a stranger who surrounded me with his arms... and on my last night, he told me why he had really approached mikara

“Every day I told me I’d give you the letter that night. And every night I was more afraid that, when you knew why I came, everything between us would become a lie.

“Was it?”

"No.

His response was immediate.

The reason I came here was Michael.

He swallowed saliva.

The reason I stayed was you.

For a long time, neither of us spoke.

Finally, I looked at the envelope.

My fingers trembled while I opened it.

Inside was a folded leaf.

Michael’s lyrics filled the page.

I could barely see it through my tears.

My Claire,

If you’re reading this, it’s probably been long enough for everyone around you to think you should have “overtaken” it by now. Ignore them. You never have to overcome having loved me.

I covered my mouth.

Daniel quietly walked away, giving me space.