The Will That Tearfully Moved Me
When my mother passed away, I expected to feel sad rather than deceived.
Despite her illness and degeneration in her last years, she had always been a constant source of light in my life. Even on long nights, hectic days, and peaceful mornings when she forgot the date but always remembered my name, I looked after her every day.
I therefore believed that perhaps, just possibly, she had seen me while I was in the lawyer’s office with relatives who had only visited me when money was at stake. She was aware of the expense and significance of those years.
But when the lawyer read the will, I heard something I couldn’t believe.
All of her money, almost five million dollars, went to my brother and two aunts.
Me? I received an envelope.
My name was written in her precise calligraphy on a small, cream-colored one.
The Cover
I could hear the joy in the room as my family whispered about their newfound wealth. They hardly gave me a glance when the lawyer handed me the envelope.
In a whisper, he placed it in my hands and said, “Your mother loved you more than anyone else.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t speak because of my constricted throat.
One key and a piece of paper with an address on it were all that was present. No explanation was provided. Not a word. That’s all.
I felt numb when I left the office. After I called, my brother laughed and remarked, “I guess she didn’t think much of you after all.”
I was aware that there was more to it, though.
The Cottage on the Hilltop
The location led me to a meandering road lined with whispering trees and wildflowers on the outskirts of town. At the end of the road was a simple stone house. With ivy growing on the walls and drapes softly blowing in the open windows, it seemed old but hospitable.
I recognized the scent as lavender, my mother’s favorite, as soon as I opened the door.
The cottage was tidy and orderly. On the wooden table next a vase of violets in bloom was a sealed envelope. I opened it while trembling.
The Note
My dear,
You’ll be shocked by this, I know. Please don’t think I forgot you since I could never forget you. Through all of the suffering and sleepless nights, you were my solace. Love without conditions is something you provided me that no one else could.
My money has always been a source of worry for the others. You were concerned about me. I gave them what they wanted because of this, and I’ve given you what you require.
This hut was my haven of peace and quiet. Writing, breathing, and remembering my former self before the world became noisy are the reasons I came here. Now it’s yours. I’m hoping it will be lively, pleasant, and lots of laughing.
Before you leave, enter the garden. You have one more gift for you.
I adore you, Mom.
I sobbed while holding the letter to my chest. For the first time since her death, I felt her presence. She was calm, sympathetic, and intimate.
The Oak Tree’s Shaded Garden
Outside, the air was cool and had a nice scent. Beyond the cottage, the garden was wild yet beautiful, with daisies, lavender, and roses swaying in the wind.
At the end of the trail was an old oak tree. It was a common topic of conversation when my mother discussed her “secret place.” Beneath it lay a little wooden chest, partially covered with moss and roots.
It contained items that money couldn’t purchase:
Our family photo albums are filled with images of peaceful Sunday mornings, vacations, and birthdays.
Years of love had worn her wedding band to a simple state.
as well as a deed declaring that the cottage and the surrounding land were now mine.
It was more than just a house. Wood, soil, and sunlight protected her heart.
What Others Didn’t Get
My brother and auntie got into a disagreement as soon as they returned to the city. They were fighting about money, accusing one another of being avaricious, and dragging lawyers into every conversation.
I returned to the cottage in the meanwhile. I listened to the wind through the trees while I sat on the porch every night. I painted the shutters and planted fresh flowers in the garden, just like my mother used to do.
I had never had such a sense of calm before.
She was fully aware of her actions.
I hadn’t received less from her. She had given me enough to start afresh, enough insight, and enough love.
The gift that money cannot purchase
I discovered what my mother had always attempted to teach me in the calm weeks that followed:
Property and money don’t reveal your true wealth. It is determined by how contented, grateful, and capable you are of loving without expecting anything in return.
She may have received money from my brother and aunts, but I received much more: her legacy, her heart, and her belief that generosity triumphs over greed.
Every morning now, as the sun peeks through the curtains and the room is filled with the aroma of lavender, I say, “Thank you, Mom.”
She left me the one inheritance that really matters: a house built on a foundation of love, not money.