Pandora's Box

I opened the box only to discover a life in which I did not exist.

In my hands I held the note. It was dated 2023 and sealed with a kiss. “He was cheating,” I said in disbelief. “He was cheating,” I said again, as if repeating it would make it make sense. “He was cheating,” I said once more as I crumbled to the floor. The box contained two notes, jewelry, tokens of time spent together, and photographs—snapshots into a …