(Author's Note: Written for Aim to Engage 2021. Prompt: Anonymous Letter
Word count 489 according to Wattpad, not counting this note)

Geraldine lifted the lid to her letterbox and scooped out the stack of envelopes. Walking back to her front door, she sifted through, separating out the Christmas cards.

There were less each year, as more people used email or Facebook to send their Season's Greetings. Thank heavens she wasn't quite at the age where they would begin to decrease for sadder reasons.

She sat down at the kitchen table to open them, smiling in anticipation. There was something special about getting an actual card in the mail.

Cousin Joan had sent her usual charity card with a brief message. Good to hear that the family was doing well in these difficult times.

Geraldine paused to study the next envelope. Surely, she recognized that hand-writing. Was it another card from her anonymous correspondent? This would be the third year she had been sent a card from a mystery someone who had forgotten to add their name. Just the greeting:

"Wishing you a Merry Christmas! All the best for the coming year."

The first time, she had laughed indulgently, wondering which of her elderly friends had forgotten to finish the message. Perhaps they had been interrupted and then put the card in the envelope without realizing.

The second time was a bit more worrying. Was this some sort of joke? She stared at the envelope, feeling uncomfortable, hesitating whether to open it or just toss it in the bin.

Curiosity won and she tore the envelope open.

"Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From your Grandson, Liam."

Geraldine frowned. All very well, except, unless she was starting to lose the plot, she didn't have a grandson called Liam. In fact, she didn't have a grandson at all. Just one granddaughter, Lily, who she hadn't seen for several years since her son's family moved to New Zealand.

It must be a mistake. But her name and address were quite clearly printed on the envelope so she was definitely the intended recipient. She rubbed the tight spot between her eyebrows.

This was so confusing. Had Michael and Barbara had another child they hadn't told her about? She checked the envelope again. No, the card had been posted from her own city.

She worried about it all morning before deciding to make the phone call. Not for the first time, she wished she had made more effort to master Facebook or Skype or whatever the young people used these days. Still, a phone call would work just as well, even if she had to pay for it.

Barbara answered and listened as Geraldine told her about the card. Her reaction was absolutely the last thing Geraldine had expected.

"Oh thank god! She's still alive!"

"What?"

"Lily, I mean, Liam. She always wanted to be Liam." Barbara was crying. "She and Michael had a huge fight... she ran away. We haven't heard from her, I mean him, for over two years. She must have gone to Australia. Is there a return address?"