As we dug up the capsule, I found a letter addressed to me in Jess’s handwriting. In it, she confessed to starting a rumor about me and Malcolm, even going as far as forging messages to make Brian believe I’d cheated. She admitted she did it out of jealousy, wanting to take something from me—even Brian, whom she didn’t even love. The betrayal stung, but finally knowing the truth helped me understand what had torn us apart all those years ago.
I met Jess after reading the letter, and for the first time, she apologized with real sincerity. We talked, not only about the past but also about what, if anything, could be salvaged of our friendship. Brian, too, came forward, apologizing for never giving me a chance to explain. We both admitted we had carried our unresolved feelings for all these years, and despite everything, there was still a spark between us.
