Nobody spoke after Emily handed Drake the weathered envelope because every person standing beside the lake understood that whatever rested inside had the power to change everything we thought we knew.
Drake looked down at the envelope for several long seconds before finally accepting it.
His movements were slow. Careful, almost reluctant and Emily never too her eyes off him.
“I’ve carried that for years.” Emily said and Drake looked at the worn edges.
“You could’ve destroyed it.” Drake said.
“I almost did. I couldn’t.” She said.
He carefully opened the seal and removed several folded documents along with a small stack of photos.
The first photo showed a younger Emily standing beside an older couple outside a modest suburban home and she pointed toward them.
“My parents. They
