The Letter My Stepmother Tried to Destroy

For several seconds, neither of us moved.

Vanessa held the envelope between her fingers as if it were something dangerous enough to burn her.

I stepped into the room.

“What did you just say?””

She blinked, and the frightened expression disappeared behind the familiar mask of irritation.

“Nothing.””

“You said Dad destroyed it.””

“I said I thought it was an old receipt.””

“You said Richard said it was destroyed.””

Vanessa shoved the envelope back into the box.

“Don't twist my words, Emily.””

I reached for it, but she pulled the box against her chest.

“Give it to me.””

“It's my property now. Madison needs this room cleared, and I won't have you making another scene over a box of junk.””

“That's my mother's letter.””

“And your mother is not here to need it anymore.””

I grabbed the edge of the box.

Vanessa jerked it away so hard that several photographs slid across the floor.

“Let go!”” she shouted.

“You let go!””

She shoved me backward. My shoulder struck the doorframe, sending a sharp sting down my arm.

For one terrifying moment, I thought she might hit me.

Instead, she snatched the envelope from the box and held it above her head.

“Maybe it's time you stopped clinging to things that don't exist anymore.””

“Don't you dare!””

She pinched the envelope between both hands.

I saw the paper bend.

Then she began tearing it.

I screamed and lunged.

“NO!””

My fingers caught the corner just before the tear reached my mother's handwriting. Vanessa twisted the envelope, and the paper ripped slightly along the edge.

I pulled with everything I had.

The envelope slipped free into my hands.

Vanessa stumbled against the dresser.

“Give that back!””

“It's mine!””

“You have no idea what you're holding!””

“Then tell me!””

She reached for the envelope again, but I backed into the hallway.

“Emily, listen to me,” she said, suddenly lowering her voice.

“There are things in that letter you aren't old enough to understand.””

“Then why are you so afraid of it?””

Her jaw tightened.

“I'm not afraid of anything.””

“Then stop trying to destroy it.””

Madison appeared behind her mother, holding one of my books.

“What's going on?””

Vanessa pointed at me.

“Your stepsister is being impossible again.””

Madison glanced at the envelope.

“Is that the letter?””

“Go downstairs,” Vanessa ordered.

“But—”

“NOW!””

Madison flinched. She had never heard her mother use that tone with her.

She disappeared down the stairs.

I looked at Vanessa.

“Why did you tell her to leave?””

“Because this is an adult matter.””

“I'm the person whose name is on the envelope!””

She lunged again.

This time, I twisted away and ran downstairs.

My heart hammered as I reached the living room. I shoved the envelope inside my schoolbag and zipped it shut.

Vanessa followed, her heels striking the wooden steps.

“Emily, come back here!””

I moved toward the front door.

“I'm going to Dad's office.””

“You are not leaving this house.””

“Watch me.””

She grabbed the strap of my bag.

I spun around.

“Touch my stuff again, and I'll tell him exactly what you did.””

Her eyes flashed.

“Your father believes me. He always has.””

“Then why are you worried about what I'll tell him?””

For the first time, Vanessa had no immediate answer.

A car engine sounded outside.

She turned toward the front windows.

“Perfect,” she muttered.

“Now we'll settle this properly.””

Dad's dark blue sedan pulled into the driveway.

I ran to the door before Vanessa could stop me.

He was halfway up the walkway when he saw my face.

“Emily? What's wrong?””

I tried to speak, but my throat had closed.

Then he noticed my clothes scattered across the stairs behind me.

His expression changed.

“What happened to your room?””

Vanessa swept past me, wearing a wounded expression that looked so convincing I almost wondered whether she'd rehearsed it.

“Richard, thank goodness you're home. Emily has been screaming at me for twenty minutes because I asked her to make room for Madison.””

Dad looked at her.

“Make room?””

“Madison needs the bigger bedroom. I explained that we'd convert the basement into a comfortable space for Emily, but she became aggressive.””

“I didn't become aggressive!”” I protested.

“She threw my clothes down the stairs!””

Vanessa sighed.

“See? This is exactly what I mean. She refuses to respect anyone in this household.””

Dad took a slow breath.

“Vanessa, why are Emily's things on the stairs?””

“Because the furniture is arriving tomorrow.””

“You said you wanted to change bedrooms,” he replied.

“You didn't say you were moving her out today.””

Vanessa's face tightened.

“I assumed you understood what that meant.””

Dad stared at her for a long moment.

Then his eyes moved to the schoolbag clutched against my chest.

“What are you holding?””

I hesitated.

Vanessa immediately stepped between us.

“Nothing important.””

Dad looked at her.

“I asked Emily.””

My hands trembled as I unzipped the bag.

I pulled out the envelope.

The moment Dad saw my mother's handwriting, all the color drained from his face.

He took one step toward me, then stopped.

“Emily,” he whispered.

“Where did you get that?””

I stared at him.

“From the box you gave me when I turned sixteen.””

His eyes closed.

For eleven years, I'd watched my father handle everything with quiet confidence. He'd negotiated contracts, repaired broken appliances, and stood beside me at hospital appointments when I was younger.

I'd never seen him look helpless.

Until then.

“Vanessa said you destroyed it,” I told him.

Dad turned slowly toward his wife.

She shook her head.

“Richard, don't listen to her. She's confused.””

“Did you try to tear this letter?””

Vanessa lifted her chin.

“I was trying to prevent her from reading something that could hurt her.””

Dad's voice became dangerously quiet.

“You had no right to touch it.””

“It's a letter from a dead woman!””