Katherine lived a quiet life. At 43, with no husband or children, her days were filled with work, books, and peaceful walks in the park. However, her tranquility was shattered last Thursday when she found an unexpected envelope in her mail.The envelope stood out among the usual bills and catalogs. It was plain but felt heavy. Inside, she discovered a flash drive labeled with the name “Tom” scribbled on it—Tom, her high school sweetheart and ex-husband whom she hadn’t heard from in over 15 years. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stood frozen, staring at his name. What could this mean?

Tom and Katherine met when they were 16, too young to understand life but old enough to fall in love—or so they thought. Inseparable throughout high school, everyone said they were the perfect match. Right after college, they got married, continuing what felt like a fairy tale.With trembling hands, Katherine plugged the flash drive into her computer. Her heart pounded as she clicked on the folder. A single video file was all that was there. Hesitating for a moment, she pressed play, driven by curiosity and a deep sense of foreboding. Tom appeared on the screen, but he was not the Tom she remembered. His face was pale, his eyes tired, and his voice had a frailty that made her chest tighten. Looking straight into the camera, into her, he began speaking.