No matter how much he tried, though, the words wouldn't change.

Dear Severus, I do hope this letter finds you well. It pains me to write this. And pains me even more to enact these words. But I see no other option. Even now I fear what may happen if this information falls into the wrong hands. There are many things I wish to say to you. But above all I want you to know that I never stopped loving you. Not for a single moment. In another life we never parted. I love you, Severus. But I must keep this brief. And so my next words will seem brash, but please bear with me...You have a son. The child I carry is not James'. It is yours. I am going to name him Y/N. Someday I hope this letter finds you, and you are able to find our boy. Please know I did this for his safety. Again, I love you. Your dearest, Lilly.

Lilly had written this years ago. Why did it just now arrive to him? Why was Snape just now reading it?

He wasn't sure he could believe it. His emotions swirled inside him like a tepid storm ready to burst forth.

Snape didn't know that today was Y/N's birthday. He was now 14 and this letter had been sent as a failsafe—a just in case that Lilly set up in the horrible event she wasn't around to tell Snape herself.