At my grandmother’s funeral, I noticed how my mom discreetly slipped something into the casket. Curiosity wouldn’t let me be, and later, when I dared to look, I couldn’t imagine what I would find.

My grandmother wasn’t just a relative to me — she was my support, my compass. Now, standing in front of her casket, I felt nothing but emptiness.

While the guests shared memories, I noticed my mom staying aside. When she walked up to the casket, I saw her hide a small package inside before quickly walking away.

When everyone had left, I approached the casket and carefully peered inside. My heart was pounding loudly. On my grandmother’s chest lay a small bundle. It was wrapped in an old handkerchief I remembered from childhood — grandma always kept it in her pocket.

I gently unfolded the cloth and froze.
Continued in the first comment 

Inside was a yellowed photograph — a young grandma with a man I had never seen before. Beneath the photo, there was a note that read: “Forgive me, Viktor.”

Who was he? Why did mom hide this in the casket?

At that moment, a soft voice came from behind me:

– You shouldn’t have seen this.

I jumped and turned around. My mom was standing in the doorway, looking at me with a sad expression.

– Who is he, mom? I asked, feeling the growing unease inside me.

She stepped closer.

– This is your grandfather, she said quietly.

I stared at the photo in surprise.

– How is that possible? Grandma always said that grandpa died when you were little…

Mom pressed her lips together and looked away.

– He’s not the man you know as grandpa, her voice trembled. – Viktor was grandma’s first love. They wanted to be together, but he was wrongfully imprisoned. When he was released, she was already married to your “grandfather.” But she kept his photo her whole life and wrote him letters…

I felt everything inside me twist.

– Did he find her?

Mom nodded sadly.

– Yes. They met a year before her death. Grandma asked him for forgiveness for not waiting. He said he never blamed her.

I stood silently, not knowing what to say.

– She wanted him to be near her, even like this, – mom nodded towards the photo. – That was her last wish.

I carefully placed the photo back, wrapped it in the handkerchief, and laid it where it had been.