The treasure

Short story of love and life

The Treasure

by Jean Stassen

She left. Pockets full of sand. As she walked along the beach picking up seashells and putting them in her pocket, she spotted a shiny treasure chest sticking out of the sand, “I wonder what's in it and who did it belong to?”

Kate James was tall at 5' 8” at 12 years old. Her hair was long and as dark as a midnight sky with brown eyes. She had been thinking of her father, who had died one year ago today. She had gotten her dark hair from him. She missed her father. He took her to movies, plays, soccer games. He had been diagnosed with a rare fast moving leukemia only 6 months before he died. Her parents were David and

Shelly James. They were an elite couple. Both worked in the health care field. He was a respiratory

therapist and she was a nurse.

Now she lived with her mom in Key West, Florida in a beach house. Her mother worked at the local nursing home. Kate had adjusted to school well and made new friends easily.

As she dug up the treasure chest on the beach; it reminded her of her fathers treasure chest. She had seen it when she was a little girl. As she opened it she couldn't believe what she saw. A years worth of letters all addressed to her. Kate hurried home to show her mom. “you will not believe what I found on the beach, mom! She took out the first letter and started reading it.

“Oh, no! I don't think you should read these, dear. She went to grab for them but didn't get them away from Kate fast enough. Kate started reading the letter out loud to her mother.

Dearest Kate:

If you are reading this letter I am already gone. Although we had only a short time together it was the happiest years of my life. It is with great sadness that I have to tell you this in a letter.

Your mother kidnapped you from a hospital in Chicago, IL when she was passing through the city. She was in the hospital because she just lost our baby from a miscarriage. She was distraught and out of her mind with grief. She walked by the nursery and saw you. She thought you resembled me and picked you up. She couldn't bear to put you down and when no one was around she walked out of the

hospital with you. When she came home with you, I didn't have the heart to turn her in and I raised

you as my own. I loved your mother and didn't want to loose both of you. Please don't blame your mother. Even though we are not your biological parents, we couldn't have loved you more.

I wrote this letter the day I was diagnosed with my illness. I put it in my treasure chest and set it

afloat, hoping someday you might find it and discover the truth. Now you will have a new journey

ahead of you.

Love,

David

She couldn't believe what she had just read. As her eyes glared at her mother, she had so many unanswered questions. “What have you done.” Kate said. Her whole world was turned upside

down, not to mention what was going to happen to Shelly once the authorities found her and

put her in prison for her crime.

“Your real parents are coming in a few days to meet you. Put on your best dress” Shelly said.

“I don't want them to think I raised you to in squalor. Just remember, I have and always will love

you.”

Shelly had made plans for when this day came. She was going to join the only love of her

life now that she had lost the last treasure she held so dear to her. There was nothing left to live for anymore. A week after Kate met her biological parents. Shelly said a tearful good-bye to Kate.

Shelly walked towards the ocean and never looked back. She was in a daze as if David was calling

to her. Beckoning her to come with him. The waves carrying her home to be with her love again.