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

The envelope was yellowed and slightly wrinkled.

I held it in my hands without opening it for several seconds.

I didn’t know why, but I felt a strange weight in my chest.

Perhaps it was the sadness of seeing her die.

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.