My Inheritance Letter Said ‘Burn Everything in the Attic,’ and Only When I Ignored It Did I Understand Why – Story of the Day

Grandma left me her house and a note declaring, ‘Burn everything in the attic.’ I didn’t pay attention. And everything I believed to be true about my family was altered by what I discovered up there.

I always knew I would be left on my own.

However, I never imagined it would occur so quickly. Simply… Bam! Grandma Elinor had also left.

When I was ten, Mom passed away. Dad? I didn’t even know him. However, Grandma was everything. And throughout her final six months in the hospital, I stayed with her. Each day. Each and every evening.

I found myself in the lawyer’s office following the service. I had to hear Grandma’s last will and testament.

The attorney opened a drawer carefully.

“You were left a residential home by Elinor. In full. No debts.

then took an item out of a drawer.

I took the note out. Just one line. The ink smudged a little.

“Marie. This indicates that I was unable to return home, if you are reading this. Everything you uncover in the attic should be burned. Avoid looking. Avoid opening. Simply burn it. It’s crucial. I cherish you. Grandma.

“What…?”

The attorney raised his head. “Something wrong?”

“She wanted me to… burn the attic?”

“Well, this isn’t a directive from the law. Not included in the will. It’s just a private request.

I left and continued to walk for about an hour till I came to our street. There was an uneasy silence when I arrived home. My purse fell to the ground.

Naturally, my gaze strayed to the ceiling. Above the corridor, to the dark hatch. The loft. Grandma instructed me to burn that exact one. My smile was twisted.

“Feels like I’m in some strange movie.”

I lowered the ladder. Nothing remained to lose. Perhaps I needed to see whatever it was that Grandma was shielding me from.

“I’m sorry, Grandma…”

I opened the hatch and let out a sharp sneeze. I was struck like a wave by the dust.

I didn’t realize at the time. I was committing the greatest error of my life.

I was in the attic far longer than I intended to be. I spent hours looking through box after box of my grandmother’s life while I sat there.

Birthday cards were present. I had depicted her using hearts and stick figures. hairpins. Buttons in small glass containers. A malfunctioning clock. Every page of a photo album has the scent of time.

Silently, again and again, the tears fell.

“Gramma, why did you want me to burn this? You are this. This is who we are.

Fragments of her speech returned to me: “Marie, don’t discard that! That was from our very first dessert. The one you filled with salt rather than sugar!

And one more recollection, on a wintry night…

“Be careful, honey, with those mitts. When your mother was your age, I knitted them.

There was so much love in everything. Till I discovered the chest. Heavy, old, and scratched. with a metal lock that has rusted. There is no key visible. I had not seen inside it before. In all the years I spent cleaning, hiding, and playing, not once.

“The key…”

Abruptly, I realized.

“The small jewelry box that Grandma had! The one she had by her bed all the time.

It was right where it had always been when I dashed down the stairs and threw open the drawer next to her bed.

It was there! A little, corroded key. As I made my way back up to the attic, my hands were shaking.

That was it. The time. The key was slipped into the lock by me. It came together. Inside… A pile of documents. Twine-tied yellowed envelopes. vintage photos.

One of them, too… I was the one. A young girl clutching the hand of an unfamiliar man

My son and my granddaughter are on the back. Marie and Thomas.

In my ears, my heart thumped. There were more pictures. as well as letters. dozens of them. All sent to Grandma’s former home. Before I was five years old. I grabbed one. I opened it.

“Mom, please. Let me see her. Her laugh is missed. Only an hour. Please.

“Months have passed,” stated another. Is she still inquiring about me? Does she still hear my voice?

Trying to breathe, I gripped the paper tightly.

“Grandma… Why didn’t you tell me about him?

He sounded really nice. I want to be a part of my life so much. The year I turned five was the date of the final letter. We moved into our home that same year. Shortly after our departure, the letters ceased to arrive.

From her own son, Grandma kept me hidden. However, why? He cherished me. Did he not?

I spent a lot of time looking at the letters. I then carefully folded one and tucked it inside the pocket of my coat.

“I’ll track you down, Dad. If you remain there… I must know.

And I was unaware that Grandma had once locked that chest to keep me safe

From the letters, I was able to locate the address. The home did the same. I didn’t know what to anticipate as I rang the doorbell. Not that, of course.

In the doorway stepped the man from the picture. His gaze expanded. “Marie?”

I gave a nod. He laughed, snatched me, and twirled me around like if I were five.

The kindness in his voice almost brought me to tears. I was taken to a nearby pizza by him. watched me eat as if I would disappear, told stories, and grinned the entire time.

However, strangely… I was never invited to his home by him. He waved his hand when I suggested that we stay a little while longer, perhaps sitting on the porch and catching up.

Instead, let’s head over to your apartment. I would adore going to Grandma’s place. Perhaps visit her grave first thing in the morning. I take it you don’t mind?”

“It’s late. It is eighty miles away.

His voice was clear despite his courteous grin. “I’d really prefer to drive tonight.”

That ought to have been my first caution.

However, I was too engrossed in the present and too hungry for love. Too thrilled to have a father at last. He was kind. Paying attention. Someone holding me and letting me know I wasn’t alone had been much needed.

I choose to disregard the oddity.

Suddenly, we were on our way to my place.

Dad stated he was exhausted when we came home. claimed he needed to sleep. I therefore prepared the couch for him. Confusion was running through my head. Perhaps he was simply overburdened. We might speak in the morning.

I had a dad. At last, I had a father.

That was my final thought before I fell asleep.

However, I didn’t get much sleep. I heard it somewhere in the middle of the night.

The floorboards upstairs are creaking.

Slipping out of bed, I did. went down the stairs. There was no one on the couch. After grabbing a flashlight, I ascended the ladder.

“Dad?”

“What’s keeping you awake?”

I answered cautiously, “I heard noises.”

“Then close your ears and go back to sleep!” he yelled. “What, are you some spoiled princess?”

I felt the jolt like a slap. The man who called me his girl and served me pizza wasn’t that one. Grandma’s belongings were being thrown on the ground like trash while that man tore into her chest.

Dust blew. He let out a sneeze. I did, too.

“Dad… What are you trying to find?

“Kid, it’s none of your business. Get some rest.

“Why are you talking to me like this?”

He laughed. “Oh, that’s right. Here it is. At last. My girlfriend’s husband is at work, so I can’t snoop around her apartment any more. She will no longer sleep in her shed.

“What? I… I’m not sure I understand.

“You don’t have to comprehend! All you’ll have to do is cook, clean, and perform your feminine tasks. Now, Daddy is moving in. Additionally, you will be a good little girl, won’t you?

“You ought to get out.”

“Oh no, my love. While your grandma kept you hidden—kept the money hidden—I spent years walking through misery. I now possess the documents. I own half of the house.

“No! Grandma let me handle it. I possess the will!

He waved a dirty piece of paper and grinned, saying, “Oh no, no.” The actual deed that we signed together was retained by her. We purchased it in both of our names back then. She submitted the paperwork behind my back, but she just told you that I vanished.

Yes, there was. Your mom passed away. She accused me.

“And did she make a mistake?”

She was ill. Yes, I occasionally had a drink. beneficial to blood flow. However, she was constantly tense and emotional. Her body failed her. Not my fault.

“So you caused Mom’s illness?”

“Don’t you begin with that as well! Sleep now!

“No! Leave now! What a horrible person you are!

“Marie, don’t aggravate me. I presently reside here. Either you follow my advice or you move. It’s as easy as that.

Holding the document like a trophy to his chest, he glanced around.

“Daddy’s house.”

And so the discussion came to an end. With the dust still stuck to his hair, he stomped downstairs. There was a squeak in the couch. Then there was quiet. Then snoring.

“Daddy’s house…

For hours, the words replayed themselves in my mind.

I had to live with that falsehood for the next week. Acting. Staying away. I was hoping he would simply go. However, he didn’t. In the kitchen, he smoked. The locks were changed. told me to straighten his clothing and referred to me as a “kid.”

I shed a tear or two. Then never again. since something broke.

Like a burglar, I could sift through my grandmother’s life if he could.

I returned to the house by car. He never allowed me to view that one. A woman emerged as the door opened. She was in her thirties.

“Hey… I apologize. My name is Marie. I believe we share a commonality.

“You were found by him?”

I gave a nod.

Quietly, she said, “Come in.”

After giving me a glass of water, she gave me a look that suggested she wanted to both embrace me and flee.

I said, “He told me you were his girlfriend.”

Bitterly, she laughed. He isn’t my romantic partner. He is my dad. And I’m unable to get him to go.

“What?”

“I assumed he was just paying us a visit. Then he remained. took my room. I spent my salary. criticized me for being ungrateful after drinking all night.

My hands were shaking. She continued.

He informed me that he was trying to find his mother. For you. For what he thought was his home.

“He resides there. Additionally, you appear to be my stepsister.

“I understand. My name is Olivia. However, we don’t have time for that.

We recruited a lawyer—one of the good ones—in two weeks. We borrowed from a neighbor, sold some jewelry, and combined our funds. It turned out that after she moved, my grandma had correctly updated the deed.

The initial agreement was null and void since, in California, a co-owner forfeits their legal claim if they leave the property and fail to pay taxes or keep up residence for more than 15 years.

The house was mine legally.

Dad was already wanting more than that. several charges. petty stealing. assault. breaking a control order. It required very little.

He was told to leave by the court. He was placed under monitoring and given a community service assignment. Following all that time… It finally made sense to me after all the nights I wished I had a father.

Not all men are worthy of the title.

“I always wanted a sister,” Olivia murmured to me as we walked out of the courthouse. I gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ve always wanted to feel less alone.”

Suddenly, we turned to leave. Two females. Daughters of a monster no more. Free at last.