My name’s Aaron. I live in Philadelphia. I run a construction business. I’m married. That’s the simple version.

The truth’s a little messier.

A while back, I got a book in the mail—about my mother, written in her voice, sent after she died. What I thought I knew about my family… wasn’t the whole story. Not even close.

Since then, I’ve been trying to put the pieces together. Some people call it digging. Some call it obsession. I call it survival.

I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve learned this much: the past never stays buried, and silence has a cost.

If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve found one of the books too. Maybe you’re looking for something that doesn’t want to be found.

Just know this: once you open it, there’s no going back.