PART 2 — THE PROMISE

Evelyn’s brother was named Michael.

He was four years older than her.

When they were children, they were inseparable.

They rode bicycles together.

They played baseball in the backyard.

They fought over the last piece of pie.

And whenever Evelyn got into trouble, Michael was usually the first person to defend her.

“He was my best friend,” Evelyn said.

Daniel sat beside her.

“What happened?”

Evelyn took a deep breath.

“When I was 33, Michael joined the Army.”

Daniel nodded.

“He wanted to serve,” Evelyn continued.

“He said he wanted to do something that mattered.”

Before he left, Michael gave Evelyn the photograph.

It had been taken when she was seventeen.

Michael was standing beside her with his arm around her shoulder.

On the back, he had written:

“No matter where life takes us, meet me here every Sunday.”

Evelyn smiled sadly.

“It was our favorite place when we were young.”

Daniel looked around the park.

“This park?”

“Yes.”

They used to come there as teenagers.

They would sit beneath the oak tree, share sandwiches, and talk about the future.

Michael promised that after his service, they would come back every Sunday.

But he never came home.

Evelyn’s voice became quieter.

“He died overseas.”

Daniel didn’t know what to say.

“I’m sorry.”

Evelyn nodded.

“He was 37.”

Daniel looked at the photograph again.

“So that’s why you come here?”

“For him.”

Every Sunday.

For forty-three years.

Evelyn had kept the promise.

Daniel sat quietly beside her.

After a few minutes, he asked:

“Did you ever get married?”

Evelyn smiled.

“Yes.”

“Children?”

“Three.”

“Grandchildren?”

“Seven.”

Daniel smiled.

“Then why don’t you bring them here?”

Evelyn looked down.

“Because they don’t know.”

“Know what?”

Evelyn hesitated.

Then she reached into her purse.

She pulled out an old envelope.

Daniel saw the handwriting immediately.

It was the same handwriting from the photograph.

Michael’s handwriting.

Evelyn held the envelope tightly.

“I never opened this.”

Daniel stared at her.

“Why?”

Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.

“Because it arrived two weeks after I learned he had died.”

Daniel didn’t understand.

“You’ve had it for forty-three years?”

Evelyn nodded.

“I was afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

Evelyn looked at the envelope.

“Afraid that whatever was inside would make losing him real.”

Daniel didn’t know what to say.

Then Evelyn looked at him.

“I think I’ve been waiting forty-three years for someone to tell me it’s okay to open it.”

Daniel looked at the old envelope.

Then he looked at the elderly woman sitting beside him.

And finally, he said:

“Maybe today is the day.”