THE SILENCE OF A FATHER….

IMPORTANT

A metal filing cabinet sat in the back with a small padlock.

And on top of one box was another envelope.

This one was smaller.

And it had one word written on it:

FIRST.

I opened it.

Inside was a flash drive, taped to a note.

The note said:

“Watch before you read.”

My pulse hammered.

I found my old phone in my bag—cheap and basic, something the reentry program had provided. It could still play videos.

I plugged in the flash drive using the adapter Harold had included in the envelope without me noticing.

A folder popped up.

One video file.

Titled:

“Eli — The Truth.”

My finger hovered over it.

Then I pressed play.

THE VIDEO MESSAGE
My father’s face filled the screen.

He looked thinner than I remembered. Pale. The kind of pale that isn’t just sickness—it’s time running out.

But his eyes were steady.