| General Fiction posted March 31, 2025 | Chapters: |
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When the time comes to let go
A chapter in the book Emotional Guest List
Regret, Remorse, and Acceptance
by Begin Again
"We regret the things we don't do more than the things we do," by Mark Twain.
The attic was quiet, dust dancing in the slanted light from a single window. She hadn't been up here in years. She almost hadn't climbed the stairs today. Each creak of the steps sent chills, like dull blades scraping at her skin.
She'd carried the sadness, the what-ifs, and even the shame for far too long. It was time to face her fears and end that part of her story.
She knelt beside the old cedar chest, her fingers trembling as they brushed against the worn lid. Tears welled in her eyes as the floodgates opened and the memories, their promises, and mistakes crashed through her mind. She shook her head, knowing it was too late to travel those roads again.
With a deep breath, she dug deep and summoned the will to open the chest.
Regret and Remorse lingered in the corner, arms folded. "I didn't think she'd ever find the courage."
Regret nodded. "She always said she'd come back to this. It just took longer than any of us expected."
Acceptance stood beside them, quiet and calm. "And now she has." She moved closer, laying one hand on her shoulder, hoping to give her strength. "She still isn't sure she's ready, but it's the first step."
The chest contained faded photographs, brittle letters, and a few things that still faintly smelled of home and family. She picked up one envelope, unopened and tied with string.
"She never read that one," Remorse murmured. "She couldn't."
Acceptance shrugged. "She feared what she'd find more than knowing."
The woman stared at the handwriting — familiar and distant all at once. She untied the string and unfolded the paper. Three words — I forgive you.
Relief flooded her as she read the words, and tears of gratitude slipped down her cheek. Regret stepped closer. "I've been a heavy load for her to carry. I never meant to haunt her that way."
She didn't answer out loud, but the way her hands trembled told him she'd heard.
Acceptance knelt beside her. "It's okay to feel this," she said gently. "But you don't have to carry it all by yourself."
The woman placed the letter back into the envelope and held it to her chest for a moment. Then she closed the chest — not to forget, but to begin to put the past to rest.
Outside, the wind stirred the branches, and a bit of sunlight reached through the dusty glass — a gentle breeze carrying promises of better days.
She stood steadier now and glanced back at the chest. "Maybe next time," she whispered, her voice filled with determination, "I'll finish and truly put it all in the past."
Regret gave a quiet nod. Remorse shrugged. "It takes time."
Acceptance smiled. "But she can do it."
The attic door clicked gently shut behind her, and her footsteps were lighter.
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