Who leaves millions to someone they barely know? When 35-year-old Kate inherited $20 million from her late elderly neighbor, she was shocked. But the truth behind the unexpected fortune would change her life in ways she never imagined.
When I moved into the neighborhood, I was simply seeking peace after my mother’s passing. My small rental was tucked between two pristine homes and the aging, overgrown house of Mrs. Calloway, my elderly neighbor. Her home, with peeling paint and tangled bushes, seemed frozen in time, much like its owner. Mrs. Calloway rarely ventured out, but when she did, it was only to check the mail or tend to her garden.
I never expected her to notice me, let alone wave me over one brisk spring morning.
“You’re the new neighbor, aren’t you?” she asked, bundled in a fraying shawl, silver hair catching the light.
I hesitated but approached. “It’s been five months since I moved in, but I suppose I’m still new,” I said with a small smile.
Her sharp eyes softened. “Would you sit with me for a moment? I could use some company,” she said, her voice both gentle and firm. “Sometimes… the silence gets too loud.”
Her honesty caught me off guard, and I agreed. What started as a simple gesture grew into a deep, unlikely friendship. We’d talk over tea, run errands, and share stories of the past. She’d tell me about her late husband, her abandoned love for painting, and dreams left unfulfilled.
“Do you have family?” I asked one evening.
Her smile faltered. “Not anymore,” she replied, her tone final.
One afternoon, while I cleaned her mantle, she said something unexpected. “You remind me of someone,” she said softly.
“Who?” I asked.
Her eyes became distant, and her hands trembled. “Someone I knew long ago,” she murmured, a tear slipping down her cheek.
I didn’t press her further but sensed that her past was filled with unspoken sorrow.
When I found her in bed one morning, it felt as though the world had stopped. She looked peaceful, as if she had simply drifted away. Her funeral was quiet and small, with only a few strangers in attendance. I placed wildflowers and lavender candles by her grave, offering a quiet tribute.
“I’ll miss you, Mrs. Calloway,” I whispered. “Thank you for everything.”
I thought that would be the end of it.
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