The Discovery
It was where the red balloon would settle on a patch of open farmland outside a small rural town. Clara, a retired school teacher, saw the balloon as she got up early in the morning to walk her dog. The color of the balloon stood out among the greenery.
Curious, Clara approached the balloon and saw a note fastened to its string. She gently unwound the knot and spread the paper. Her heart immediately warmed with the neat child-like writings of Emily; the message spoke about her dreams, love for her grandfather, and wished for someone to find happiness.
Clara was shocked. The note evoked a reaction in her that she never could have foresaw, linking her to memories of her childhood and to her husband, who had always encouraged her to dream big. She stayed there for a moment, hand holding the note, as if the universe had given her something worth having.
