Beside the letters lay a pile of photographs. They showed a younger Tomas, smiling and carefree, with a woman I assumed was Maria. Their eyes sparkled with youth and hope. As I flipped through the photos, I noticed a recurring setting—a small, picturesque house, nestled in a lush landscape. In the background of one photo, I recognized the silhouette of a mountain that was familiar from stories Tomas had shared about his childhood.

However, one particular photo caught my eye. It was a close-up of Maria, holding a small child. The child had a mischievous grin, eyes full of life. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed the uncanny resemblance to Tomas, down to the curve of the smile and the twinkle in the eyes.