I didnโt expect my life to change that Thursday afternoon. My phone rang while I was at work, and I thought nothing of it. But when I picked up, the voice on the other end said, โHello, Ms. Daniels. This is Mr. Stevens from Stevens & Associates. Iโm calling because youโve been named in an inheritance.โ
A young woman on her couch talking on her phone | Source: Midjourney
I paused, confused.ย Inheritance?ย โIโm sorry,โ I said. โI think you have the wrong person. I donโt have any family.โ
โNo, this is correct,โ the lawyer assured me. โItโs from a Mr. Greenwood.โ
That name meant nothing to me as it wasnโt my parentsโ last name, and I had no living relatives โ none I knew of, anyway. โI donโt know any Mr. Greenwood,โ I said.
A man on his phone in his office | Source: Pexels
โWell, he left something for you,โ Mr. Stevens replied calmly. โIโd like you to come by my office on Friday to discuss the details.โ
I didnโt know what to think. Who was Mr. Greenwood? Why would he leave me anything? I was 28 years old and had spent my entire life as an orphan, with no family. I grew up in the system after my parents died in a car accident when I was just three months old.
A crying girl on a funeral | Source: Midjourney
I never had any relatives, no grandparents, aunts, and uncles. My parents were orphans themselves, raised in an asylum with no family of their own. I had spent years wondering if I was the only person left in my family tree.
But now, a stranger named Mr. Greenwood was said to have left me something. I agreed.
A bewildered woman on her phone | Source: Midjourney
After my parents died, I bounced around foster homes until I was about 12. No one wanted to keep me for long. I wasnโt a bad kid, just quiet. Iโd seen a lot by then โ foster families who only wanted the state checks, homes where the other kids were mean. I learned not to trust people.
โYouโre better off keeping to yourself,โ one of the older girls had told me when I was 10. โPeople come and go. Youโll see.โ
A sad serious girl | Source: Pexels
She was right. No one stayed.
When I was a teenager, I stopped expecting anyone to love me or even stick around. Iโd become tough and independent. I had to be. School was my escape, and I worked hard, getting decent grades, and dreaming of the day I could leave the system behind.
A sad girl in her bedroom | Source: Pexels
When I turned 18, I aged out of the foster care system. I didnโt get a tearful goodbye or a going-away party like some of the other kids. I just left with a small bag of clothes and whatever was in my savings account from the part-time jobs Iโd done.
College wasnโt in the cards, so I got a job as a barista and later started working at a local bookstore. It wasnโt glamorous, but it paid the bills.
A barista pouring coffee | Source: Pexels
I didnโt need much, just enough to get by. But through it all, I never stopped wondering about my parents. What kind of people were they? Would they have loved me if theyโd lived?
When Friday finally came, I couldnโt stop thinking about that phone call. Mr. Greenwood. Who was he? Why had he left something for me?
A nervous young woman | Source: Midjourney
I called the lawyerโs office to confirm the appointment the next morning. โHi, this is Ms. Daniels,โ I said, my voice trembling a little. โI have a meeting today at one oโclock with Mr. Stevens.โ
โYes, Ms. Daniels, weโre expecting you,โ the receptionist said. โMr. Stevens is ready to explain everything.โ
A woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels
I wasnโt sure how to feel. Part of me wanted answers, but another part was terrified of what I might discover. Maybe this was some mistake. Maybe I was getting my hopes up for nothing.
I tried to distract myself, but as I sat in my small apartment that morning, my mind kept racing. I googled the name โMr. Greenwood,โ hoping for a clue. All I found were a few businesses with that name and a couple of obituaries. Nothing connected to me.
A woman looking into her phone | Source: Pexels
I spent hours going through old memories, trying to figure out if Iโd ever heard that name. I hadnโt. I even went through a few old photos of my parents โ none gave me any hints. It didnโt make sense. How could a complete stranger leave me an inheritance?
When I arrived at the lawyerโs office, I felt like I was walking into a dream. The place was fancy โ mahogany wood everywhere, a big reception desk, framed diplomas on the wall. A secretary led me into a small, private office.
A lawyer in his office | Source: Pexels
Mr. Stevens stood up when I entered. โMs. Daniels, thank you for coming,โ he said, extending his hand. He was older, with gray hair and round glasses. He seemed kind, but professional.
I shook his hand. โNice to meet you,โ I said, sitting down. My hands were clammy, and I tried to calm my nerves.
โSo,โ I began, โcan you tell me who Mr. Greenwood is?โ
A woman in a lawyerโs office | Source: Midjourney
Mr. Stevens nodded, opening a folder on his desk. โIโm going to explain everything, but I need you to stay with me. This might be difficult to hear.โ He looked at me over his glasses, and my stomach dropped.
I could barely breathe. โWhat do you mean?โ
Mr. Stevens took a deep breath. โMr. Greenwood,โ he began, โwas the man responsible for the car accident that killed your parents.โ
A lawyer writing on a document | Source: Pexels
โWHAT!?โ I screamed when I realized what was going on. I sat there, my heart pounding as Mr. Stevens continued.
โMr. Greenwood was devastated by what happened,โ the lawyer said, his voice calm but heavy. โHe never meant for anyone to die that night. It was a terrible accident. He had been drinking, lost control of his car, and your parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time.โ
A scared man | Source: Pexels
I felt a lump form in my throat. The thought of someone driving drunk and taking my parents from me was almost too much to bear.
โHe was sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter,โ Mr. Stevens continued. โBut while he was there, he never stopped thinking about your family. The guilt consumed him. When he was released, he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to making amends in the only way he knew how.โ
A man reading in prison | Source: Pexels
I blinked, trying to process what I was hearing. โMaking amends?โ I whispered.
โYes,โ Mr. Stevens replied, nodding. โHe sold his house, moved into a small trailer, and started a small business. He worked long hours, saved every penny. Over time, his business grew, and he became quite successful. But he didnโt spend the money. Instead, he saved it, hoping that one day he could offer you something to help make up for the pain he caused.โ
A man working hard | Source: Pexels
I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. โMoney canโt bring back my parents,โ I muttered, more to myself than to Mr. Stevens.
โNo, it canโt,โ he agreed softly. โBut Mr. Greenwood believed it was the least he could do. He wanted you to have financial security, something he felt your parents would have wanted for you. He didnโt have children, no other heirs. You were his only focus.โ
A lawyer looking at his client | Source: Pexels
I sat in stunned silence as the lawyer went on.
โThe inheritance is five million dollars, Ms. Daniels. Every penny he earned after getting out of prison was set aside for you. He spent his life trying to make amends for that night.โ
My mind swirled. Five million dollars. It felt surreal. Part of me wanted to accept it. After all, I had struggled my whole life. I didnโt have much to my name. This money could change everything for me. I could pay my debts, quit my job, and maybe even travel.
A thoughtful woman | Source: Pexels
But another part of me felt sick at the thought. This money was tied to the worst moment of my life. The man who caused my parentsโ death wanted me to live off his guilt? How could I accept that?
I looked up at Mr. Stevens. โI donโt think I can take it,โ I said quietly.
The lawyer didnโt seem surprised. โItโs a lot to process,โ he said kindly. โYou donโt have to decide today.โ
A lawyer reading a document | Source: Pexels
But I knew. I already knew.
โI canโt take the money,โย I said more firmly this time. โIt doesnโt feel right. I donโt want anything from him.โ
Mr. Stevens nodded. โI understand.โ
A woman in her lawyerโs office | Source: Midjourney
I thought for a moment, then added, โBut I donโt want the money wasted either. Can you transfer it to a charity? Something for orphans, maybe? I think that would be the best way to use it.โ
The lawyer smiled slightly as if he had been expecting this. โOf course. I can arrange that. There are several foundations that help children who grew up in situations like yours. Iโll make sure it goes to a good cause.โ
A lawyer with a slight smile | Source: Pexels
I felt a small sense of relief wash over me. I still didnโt fully know how to feel about Mr. Greenwood, but at least I knew that something good could come out of all this pain.
I thought about my parents more than usual in the days after the meeting. I still didnโt have all the answers Iโd been looking for, but I strangely felt closer to them. I had always wondered what kind of people they were, and now I knew they had left a mark on someone, even if it was through tragedy.
A hopeful smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
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This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided โas is,โ and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.