(narrating) A few days had passed since Alex wrote the letter. The envelope still sat nicely on the kitchen table. It felt silly—sending a letter to someone who was no longer there—but something about writing it had given them a small sense of peace. The routine of life continued, each day blending into the next, until one morning, something strange happened.

(narrating) The comfort in Jordan’s words was undeniable, and Alex felt a renewed sense of closeness. It was as if Jordan had never really left. They shared more of their life, talking about the mundane and the profound, and eagerly awaited Jordan’s replies.

(narrating) It became ritual. Each letter passed back and forth brought immense comfort to Alex. Yet, as time went on, subtle but unsettling inconsistencies began to emerge.