I Will Always Write Back

Martin is bewildered to finally meet, Caitlin who does not resemble the 12-year-old girl that he knew from pictures. They are now two grown adults. When Martin arrives at Caitlin’s house, he is shown his bedroom, which is in the basement where Wallace had been staying. Caitlin then takes Martin shopping for clothes at the mall, buying him many articles of clothing. Martin is overwhelmed by the excess of the mall, but he accepts Caitlin’s generosity. They share a Cinnabon together, which he maintains is one of the most delicious things he has ever eaten.

Back at Caitlin’s house, Caitlin encourages Martin to put on a new outfit for dinner. Martin is astounded by the pot roast, large salad, and dressing options that surround him at the table. The next day, Caitlin’s family invites friends and neighbors to meet Martin at a party at their house. Caitlin’s mother gets up to make a tearful speech. Martin stands up as well to give a speech of gratitude. He says, “This is going to bring a great change to my family” and that by going to college in the US, he will gain “a platform to exploit my potential and get some help to my family and friends in Zimbabwe” (380). After his speech, Caitlin squeezes his hand.

Years later, Martin gives a speech at a party celebrating Caitlin’s recent engagement to Dzmitry. In the speech, he calls Dzmitry “another brother” (385). It brings everyone to tears. Caitlin met Dzmitry while on a cruise with her family and was engaged not too long after. This party also includes the rest of Caitlin’s family and Wallace.

Reflecting on his time at Villanova, Martin reveals that he has been sending money back home to his family in Zimbabwe. While Caitlin’s mother had offered to help him financially during his first year of college, he eventually got several part-time jobs, including working at Taco Bell and then at an insurance company. With the money he earned, he was able to buy a house for his family in Zimbabwe and support his siblings’ education. His youngest sister, Lois, may have an opportunity to attend college in the US thanks to his efforts.

Martin also reveals that eventually Caitlin will finish her nursing degree and give birth to a daughter. Martin himself will eventually graduate from Villanova and pursue his MBA at Duke University.

Caitlin has given birth to two daughters, Mila and Dasha. She continues to live in Pennsylvania, 30 minutes away from her childhood home. Meanwhile, Martin works as an analyst for a midtown investment banking firm and travels frequently for work.

As Martin travels a lot, much of the collaborative writing of I Will Always Write Back has taken place over Skype or WhatsApp. When the book is released, it receives widespread attention, especially from schools that are interested in having Martin and Caitlin speak with their students. When Caitlin receives a request to speak at Pennfield Middle School, her former middle school and where she wrote her first letter to Martin, Martin is unavailable to do the speaking engagement with her. The school requests that Caitlin give the talk herself, which she agrees to do. In front of an assembly of Pennfield Middle School students, she shares her early correspondence with Martin and how small acts of kindness can change people’s lives in a tremendous way. She concludes, “Kindness is contagious” (396).