She had refused their money for the purchase, wanting them to know it was hers and hers alone. The house was small, but it was hers.

She opened one of the boxes and pulled out a photograph of herself and Meredith as children. They were smiling, arms wrapped around each other.

Jessica felt a pang of hurt that Meredith had never tried to contact her. She missed her sister and still loved her deeply, despite the years of silence. She sighed heavily and decided to start cleaning. She wanted to make this house feel like a home.

After tidying up the bedroom, she moved on to the bathroom. As she scrubbed the sink, she noticed a small crack in the wall. Annoyed, she thought the workers had done a poor job.

Curious, she shone a light into the crack and saw something inside. Her fingers trembled as she reached in and pulled out several letters.

She held them in her hands, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. She took them to the kitchen, her heart pounding.

Jessica sat at the table, the five letters spread out in front of her. The handwriting was neat and graceful, a woman’s touch evident in every loop and curve. She opened the first letter with curiosity.

“Dear Friend,

Welcome to your new home! My husband, Diego, built this house with his own hands. We moved in just a year ago, full of excitement and hope. We argued over the paint colors and where to place the furniture, but it was all part of the joy of making this house our own. I hope you find as much happiness here as we have.

Best wishes, M.”

Jessica felt a strange warmth in her chest as she read the words. She could almost see newlyweds laughing and bickering as they made the house a home. She opened the second letter.

“Dear Friend,

It’s been another year in our beloved home. Diego and I have been trying to start a family. We even set up a nursery with a crib and painted the walls a soft yellow. But so far, nothing has worked. It’s been hard, but we keep each other strong. I hope your dreams come true here, just as we still hope ours will.

With hope, M.”

Jessica’s eyes filled with tears. She could feel the pain and longing in Meredith’s words. She took a deep breath and opened the third letter.

“Dear Friend,

We’ve decided to stop trying for a baby after another heartbreaking loss. The silence of the nursery was too much to bear. To fill the void, we adopted a dog. Her name is Bella, and she has brought so much joy and comfort into our lives. I hope this house brings you as much comfort as Bella has brought us.

Warmly, M.”

Jessica wiped away tears that streamed down her face. The sorrow and resilience in the letter touched her deeply. She opened the fourth letter with trembling hands.

“Dear Friend,

I have wonderful news! I’m eight months pregnant. After so much heartache, our dream is finally coming true. We can’t wait to bring our baby boy home to this house filled with love and memories. I hope you find your own happiness and fulfillment here.

With joy, M.”

Jessica smiled through her tears, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness for them. She opened the final letter.

“Dear Friend,

Our time in this house has come to an end. We’re moving to be closer to the sea for our son’s health. This house has seen our joys, sorrows, and dreams come true. I wish you a life filled with love and happiness here.

With love and care, from Meredith the mermaid.”

Jessica’s hands shook, and a lump formed in her throat. Meredith had called herself “the mermaid” when they were children

She realized she had bought the house her sister’s husband had built. It was as if fate had guided her there.

She sat back, overwhelmed by the realization. She had waited so long for any connection with Meredith, and now, by a strange twist of fate, she had found it. She decided it was a sign that she needed to find her sister and rebuild their relationship.

She nervously dialed the realtor, Sarah, and arranged a meeting at a nearby café. Sarah said she could be there in an hour. Jessica hung up the phone, her mind racing with a mix of hope and fear.

She took her time getting ready, trying to calm her nerves. As she brushed her hair and chose an outfit, she couldn’t stop thinking about her sister and the letters.

When she arrived at the café, she spotted Sarah already sitting at a corner table. Jessica took a deep breath and walked over, her heart pounding. Sarah looked up and smiled warmly.

“Hi, Jessica. How are you?” Sarah asked, motioning for her to sit down.

“Hi, Sarah. Thanks for meeting me,” Jessica replied.

“Would you like some coffee?” Sarah asked as Jessica sat down.

“No, thank you,” Jessica said, shaking her head. “I’m too old to drink coffee in the evening. It keeps me up all night.”

Sarah laughed softly. “I understand. So, what did you want to talk about? Is something wrong with the house?”

Jessica hesitated, looking down at her hands. “No, no. The house is perfect. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Sarah prompted, leaning forward with a concerned look.

Jessica took a deep breath. “I found some letters left by the previous owner. They describe their life in the house.”

“That’s interesting. I’ve heard of people doing that but have never encountered it myself,” Sarah said, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes,” Jessica continued, her voice trembling. “But the thing is, I think these letters are from my sister. She went missing eleven years ago.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh… I don’t even know what to say.”

Jessica leaned forward, desperation in her eyes. “Do you have their contact information or any details about them?”

Sarah looked unsure. “I know they moved to another state because their son has asthma. They were advised to move closer to the sea.”

Jessica’s heart raced. “What about phone numbers?”

Sarah bit her lip. “Usually, I don’t disclose such information about clients.”

“Please, Sarah. She may be my sister,” Jessica pleaded, her voice breaking.

Sarah hesitated, clearly torn. “It’s still…”

Jessica interrupted, her voice urgent. “I haven’t seen her in eleven years. If it weren’t for these letters, I wouldn’t even know she was married and had a son.”

Sarah sighed, looking conflicted. “But Jessica”

“Please, Sarah,” Jessica begged. “I’ll do anything, pay you anything. I just want to see my sister again.”

Sarah looked into Jessica’s eyes, seeing the sincerity and desperation. “Alright,” she said softly. “But you can’t tell anyone where you got their contacts.”

Jessica’s face lit up with relief. “I promise.”

Sarah wrote down Meredith and her husband’s contact details and handed them to Jessica. Jessica looked at the piece of paper, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety.

“Thank you, Sarah,” Jessica said, her voice full of gratitude.

“You’re welcome. I hope you find her,” Sarah replied, smiling warmly.

They chatted a bit more in the café about the neighborhood and local shops, but Jessica’s mind was elsewhere. She was already planning her next steps.

After leaving the café, Jessica hurried home. She sat down at her computer, her heart racing, and immediately booked a flight to the city where Meredith lived. She felt a surge of determination.

This was her chance to reconnect with her sister, and she wasn’t going to waste it. As she packed her bag, she couldn’t help but wonder what Meredith would be like after all these years.

The next day, Jessica flew to another state to find Meredith. Her stomach churned with nerves during the entire flight. As soon as she landed, she used the contacts Sarah had given her to locate Meredith’s address. She took a taxi to the address, her heart pounding with each passing minute.

When the taxi stopped in front of the house, Jessica took a deep breath and stepped out. She approached the door, her legs feeling like jelly. Mustering all her courage, she knocked on the door.

Moments later, the door opened, and there stood Meredith. She no longer looked like the teenager Jessica remembered. She was holding a small boy who looked just like her.

Meredith’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Jessica, her mouth opening slightly in surprise.

“Hi, Meredith,” Jessica said quietly.

Meredith looked stunned for a moment. Then she set her son down and hugged Jessica tightly.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Meredith whispered, her voice full of emotion.

“Me neither,” Jessica said, tears streaming down her face.

Meredith let her go and picked her son back up, then invited Jessica inside. The house was warm and cozy, with toys scattered on the floor. They sat in the living room while the little boy played with his cars and blocks.

“How did you find me?” Meredith asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Jessica took a deep breath. “I bought your old house. I found the letters you left behind.”

Meredith’s eyes widened. “I didn’t expect anyone to find those so soon.”

“Why did you even write them?” Jessica asked.

“We knew we wouldn’t live in that house forever; we love to travel. I thought it would be interesting to leave a piece of us in every house we live in,” Meredith replied.

Jessica nodded. “Why didn’t you try to contact me all these years?” she asked, her voice soft but filled with hurt.

Meredith sighed, looking down. “It was because of Mom and Dad. You were always close to them, and I didn’t want them in my life. They never accepted Diego, and I needed to build my own family away from their influence.”

Jessica felt a pang of regret. “I barely speak to them now. I regret not having the chance to talk to you all this time.”

Meredith looked up, her eyes softening. “I felt the same way. But they were so against my relationship with Diego. And now we’re married and have this wonderful son. I wouldn’t change a thing, even if I could.”

Jessica’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there when you lost your baby. I should have been there for you.”

Meredith’s face softened with a sad smile. “I missed having your support during that time. It was hard, but we got through it.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the past settling around them. Then Meredith broke the silence. “But now you have the chance to be a part of your nephew’s life. He could use a cool aunt.”

Jessica smiled through her tears and hugged Meredith tightly. “I missed you so much,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.

“I missed you too, so much,” Meredith replied, hugging her sister back with equal intensity.

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