Do I show her his love letters?

Just as her world has started finally to turn again after his death.

Will it wake old wounds

And set the pangs, still raw, thrumming?

Or will it give comfort

As their paths are surely drawn together

In the not too distant future?

I happened upon the non-descript box while clearing the attic,

It’s been a while since she was able to climb the rickety ( frankly unsafe) ladder.

Not realising at first what they were, among forests of papers,

The closely written italic lines stopped me from discarding to the shredder pile.

The passion gleamed through:

Breathless,

All-enveloping,

Timeless,

Wonderful.

Having witnessed their final three months –

Separate in mind but not presence,

So acutely distressing and painful to witness,

It helps

To know how much he loved her.

I try not to read – a glimpse of content is enough.

Returning them to their owner is surely the right thing to do.