Whispers Of Forgotten Days

Elias found himself revisiting the letters, the manuscript, and the memories, but there was a sense of longing he couldn't shake-an ache th

, having spent the day lost in his thoughts, was startled. He hadn't expected visitors-his life had bec

hair that had begun to gray at the temples, his face marked with the lines of age but still carrying a certain

but tinged with uncertainty. "I hope I'm not

the way the man said his name-something familiar in th

oice steady despite the sudden ru

omas McAllister," he said slowly, as if testing the name on Elias's lips. "

g in his throat. He stepped aside, gesturing for the man to com

with a quiet intensity. He looked around, almost as if searc

ing a seat by the fire, which had been softly crackling. "But

ity piqued. "I didn't realize anyone

young, but life-well, life has a way of pulling people in different directions." He paused, looking into the fire as if lost in his own thoughts

nes he had never replied to. But there was something else, something he couldn't

? Anything he said that

hat summer-the one with you under the oak tree. He said it was the happiest he'd ever been, tha

as had felt the same way about that summer as he did. But hearing i

nged. We all did. But Thomas, he never quite found his way back to that boy he'd been. I think he alwa

ters-he had assumed his friend had moved on, just as he had. But hearing Robert speak of the change in Thomas, of the lo

altering, "did he ever talk about comin

mething always held him back. I don't think he ever forgave himself for losing

est. He had thought so many things over the years-blamed himself for letting the friendship slip away, convinced himself that it was just

that once felt like it would last forever. By the time Robert stood to leave, the s

nvelope from his coat pocket and handing it to Elias. "Some

some from their youth, others from after the war. There was one, in particular, of the two of

ick with emotion. "I-I didn't know an

Take care of yourself, Elias. And don't

se to his chest. The weight of it felt like the closing of a chapter-one that had