The gift

The package was heavy. Return address: Annapolis, Maryland. 

After lugging it upstairs, I opened it up. 

A series of boxes and books, wrapped in white tissue paper like wedding gifts. 

A typed letter in an envelope “found among Mom’s things” -- an alleged copy of one sent to my own mother in 1991, berating her for her answer when my 7-year-old self asked, “was it suicide?”