I Saved a Boy During a Storm 20 Years Ago — Yesterday He Came Back with an Envelope That Made Me Tremble

He blinked fast.

“Tea first?” he said.

I froze.

He looked down at his hands.

That phrase.

Tea first.

My heart did a weird flip.

I swallowed.

“Tea,” I said. “Then talk.”

“I know,” he replied.

“Andrew, stop protecting them.”

He looked down at his hands.

“I found out later,” he said, “the story was cleaned up.”

“Cleaned up how?” I pressed.

He hesitated.

I snapped, “Andrew, stop protecting them.”

His eyes glistened.

He slid the envelope onto the table.

He nodded once.

“Okay,” he said. “Okay.”

He slid the envelope onto the table.

“You’re going to be mad,” he warned.

“I’m already mad,” I said.

He gave a tight smile. “Fair.”

“I’m here because I need you.”

I grabbed the envelope.

He put his hand on it.

“Wait,” he said.

I glared. “What now?”

He met my eyes.

“I’m not here for a thank-you,” he said. “I’m here because I need you.”

I opened it. Paper slid out.

My heart thumped.

“For what?” I asked.

“To tell the truth.”

Then he let go.

I opened it.

Paper slid out.

“What is this?”

Thick stack.

Tabs. Stamps.

A letter on top.

I read the first lines.

Then my hands went cold.

I looked up.