I AGREED TO CLEAN AN OLD WOMAN’S HOUSE FOR 200 PESOS… BUT THE DAY SHE DIED AND LEFT A SINGLE LETTER FOR ME, I UNDERSTOOD THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN AS I THOUGHT.-nghia

Or maybe it was something more.

The neighbor who had given me the letter was watching me from the doorway.

“She said only you should read it,” he murmured.

I nodded.

My fingers tore the edge of the envelope.

Inside there was a folded sheet of paper… and something else.

A small metal key.

I frowned.

First I opened the letter.

The handwriting was shaky, but clear.

“Dear Diego:

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer in this world.

I felt a chill.

Keep reading.

“I know that for months you came to my house, cleaned, cooked for me, and took me to the hospital. I also know that I never paid you the money I promised.”

I looked down.

Yeah.

He never did.

The letter continued.