Echoes of the Past

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I sat at the kitchen table, my fingers trembling slightly as I held the letter. The envelope was worn and weathered, its edges softened from a long journey. The handwriting on the front was unmistakable—strong, confident, and painfully familiar. The same hand that had written countless letters to my husband and me years ago. Letters filled with stories from the front lines, letters signed with love by a man who had risked his life for his nation, a man who reminded me so much of my dear Eric, his twin brother Cole.

I took a deep breath and unfolded the letter, the paper crackling in the quiet kitchen. The words jumped out at me, each one a reminder of the past, each one pulling me back to a time I had tried so hard to move on from.

Dear Ava,
I hope this letter finds you and the boys well. I have some news I wanted to share with you in person, but since I'm still a few weeks away from home, I thought I'd write to let you know that I'm retiring from the Army. It's been a long road, but it's time for me to come home. I've missed you all more than I can say, and I can't wait to see the boys. I've heard so much about how they've grown. I know Eric would be proud of them.
yours sincerely,
Cole

My heart pounded in my chest. Cole was coming home. The boys would be thrilled—I could already see the excitement in their eyes as they imagined the gifts and stories their uncle would bring. But my own emotions were far more complicated.

It had been five years since Eric had been taken from me, five years since that fateful night when he didn't come home. Eric, the brave and loving man I had married, the father of my two beautiful sons, had died in the line of duty, shot by a burglar during a mission gone wrong. For years, I had struggled with the loss, sinking into a depression that made every day feel like a battle. The twins had been my only reason to keep going.

Then James came into my life. Sweet, understanding James, who had helped me piece my life back together. He had loved me when I thought I would never be able to love again, and he had been a wonderful father to my boys. We had married two years after Eric's death, and slowly, I had begun to heal.

But Cole's return was stirring up memories I had fought to bury. Cole, who looked so much like Eric that it hurt to look at him, carried the same laugh, the same facial expressions, the same strength. Whenever he had visited over the years, I had been struck by how deeply those similarities ran, and it had always left me feeling both comforted and unsettled. I would never admit it to anyone, especially to James, but I feared that the sight of Cole would bring back the pain of losing Eric. It will be as if Eric would have returned even though as another person.

James entered the kitchen, his expression dark as he saw the letter in my hand. He didn't need to ask who it was from. He knew. He asked what there was written and I gave the letter to him. He read in silence and then handed the letter back to me.

"So, he's coming back," James said, his voice tense.

I nodded, folding the letter carefully. "He's retiring. He wants to see the boys."

James's jaw tightened, and he turned away, his hands gripping the edge of the counter. "And you? How do you feel about it?"

"James..." I began, but I didn't know how to finish the sentence. How could I explain the whirlwind of emotions inside me? How could I make him understand without hurting him?

"You know how I feel about this, Ava," James said, his voice low and strained. "He's Eric's twin. Every time he's around, it's like... it's like he's here. And I know you still love Eric. I know you'll always love him."

I stood and crossed the room, placing a hand on James's arm. "Eric was my first love, and I'll always carry him with me. But that doesn't mean I don't love you. You're my husband, James. You've been there for me in ways I can never thank you enough for. You've made me happy again, and given me hope. Cole is just... he's just Eric's brother."