My Elderly Neighbor Died — Two Days Later, I Dug Up the Secret He Hid Under His Apple Tree for 40 Years

Under the apple tree.

The next morning curiosity finally won.

After Richie left for work and the girls went to school, I grabbed a shovel and walked next door.

The apple tree stood near the fence where it always had, its branches crooked with age.

I pushed the shovel into the ground.

The soil was soft.

After a few minutes the blade hit something hard.

A dull metallic sound echoed through the quiet yard.

My heart started racing.

I knelt down and brushed away the dirt until the edge of a small metal box appeared.

It was rusty and heavy.

Old.

I pulled it out of the ground and wiped away the mud.

For a moment I just stared at it.

Then I opened it.

Inside were photographs.