"I'm sorry, honey, but Joe was an old man--" he started.

"You mean he's DEAD?!?!" shrieked Melissa.

"I think so," he said. "I'm going to call the paramedics."

But Melissa didn't dramatically run out. Her face turned ashen gray, and the light left her eyes until they were mournfully dull. After her father had left the room, Melissa strolled around it with no particular destination. She found herself stop at the Amati violin. Melissa began to cry with a force she'd never cried with before. She pulled the treasure off the wall and stroked it. Melissa turned it over, and to her surprise, there was a note attached to it. It was addressed to her. Melissa slowly opened it. It read:

DEAR MELISSA,

THIS AMATI VIOLIN NOW BELONGS TO YOU. I

TREASURED IT, AND I KNOW YOU WILL TOO.

IT IS VERY PRECIOUS. I VALUED YOUR

FRIENDSHIP VERY MUCH.

LOVE, JOE

Melissa began to cry even harder, then looked up and whispered, "Thank you, Joe. I love you too."