My dying wife asked me to find my first love as her final wish — when I learned why, my knees nearly gave out. The moment I knew why, my knees nearly gave out.

The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.

Then she whispered my name.

“Walter. My God.”

 
PART 2: THE TRUTH ANNA HAD CARRIED

Saturday morning, I drove four hours to Pittsburgh with Carol’s wedding ring in my pocket and more questions than I knew how to ask. I sat outside Anna’s house for nearly an hour before finally forcing myself to walk to the door.

When she opened it, I recognized her immediately despite the silver in her hair and the years written across her face. Her eyes were exactly as I remembered them, yet something about them felt strangely familiar in a way I could not explain.

“Walter.”

I told her Carol had died only weeks earlier and that her final request had been for me to find Anna. The moment I said Carol’s name, something shifted in Anna’s expression, as though she had been waiting decades for this conversation.