Tucked between the wooden boards was a yellowed envelope.
Tom carefully opened it and unfolded the letter inside.
The handwriting was uneven, clearly written by someone elderly.
He read it aloud.
“If an honest person finds this money, please use it to do something good with it. I have no family left. Let it at least bring happiness to someone.”
Maria covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.
“Tom… maybe this is meant for us.”
Tom thought carefully.
“Maybe. But first we have to do the right thing.”
The next day he went to the local police station and reported the discovery. They recorded the information and told him they would wait to see if anyone claimed the money.
Weeks passed.
Maria barely slept, thinking about what the letter meant.
Tom repeated the same words every time she worried.
“We did the honest thing. That’s what matters.”
Eventually the police confirmed that no one had come forward.
The decision now belonged to them.
That evening they sat at the kitchen table looking at the carefully stored bundles.
“I don’t want this money to change who we are,” Maria said firmly.
“It won’t,” Tom replied. “We’ll use it wisely.”
First they thought about their daughter and grandchildren.