On Our 21st Birthday, We Received a Mysterious Box—We Gasped When We Saw What Was Inside

and saved like treasure, a small plastic ring from one of our childhood games, and a letter.

Leila read the first line silently, then made a sound that broke something inside me.

“What does it say?” I asked gently.

She swallowed hard and read aloud.
“Dear Leila,You probably rolled your eyes when you saw this. I can see you doing it. You roll your eyes continue reading …