For the past three months, every night I have been smelling a strange smell. It’s not a typical body odor. It was like the smell of mold mixed with a strong, pungent smell clinging to the blankets, to the bedsheet, and especially to the part of the bed where Miguel was sleeping.

I took a deep breath.

And then I started reading.

“Ana,

If you’re reading this right now, that means you’ve discovered the secret I’ve been keeping for a long time.

I know you are going to be angry.

Or you might get hurt.

But before you make a judgment, read it to the end.

The money in the mattress does not come from crime.

It also doesn’t come from cheating.

It’s money I’ve been saving for years.

For something I’ve been dreaming about for a long time.

You know how hard my life was when I was a kid.

I grew up in a small village in Cebu.

A lot of my childhood friends at the time didn’t get to school.

It’s not that they don’t want to.

But because they don’t have any money.

When I graduated from college and started making money, I promised myself that one day, I would build a school for underprivileged children.

I didn’t tell you because I was scared.

I was afraid you might think I was crazy.

Or maybe you’re going to stop me because it’s a huge amount of money needed.

So I secretly saved.

I secretly traveled to Cebu to buy land.

And I secretly built a small school.

It’s coming to an end.

The mattress money was the last straw to keep the school open.

The smell you smell comes from some old documents and wet money that has been hidden for a long time.

I’m sorry if I get mad every time you clean the bed.

I was just scared that you might see everything right away before I was ready to tell the truth.

I plan to tell you all about it next month.

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary.

I want to go to school with you.