I Discovered a 1991 Letter from My First Love in the Attic — What Happened After I Looked Her Up Online Was Unbelievable

My mother struggled to manage the house and my younger siblings, and I felt I had no choice but to return home. I packed my bags without hesitation, believing family came first.

Sue, meanwhile, had just landed a position with a nonprofit organization she had dreamed about since high school. It was her chance to make a tangible difference in the world, and I never once considered asking her to give it up.

Our plan was to survive on weekend drives, long handwritten letters, and the hope that love would be enough to span the distance.

For a while, it worked. Every letter she sent was full of affection, plans, and tiny details that made the miles between us seem smaller. We kept track of each other’s lives through paper and ink, feeling closer despite the separation.

And then, without warning, she vanished.