My Birth Mother, Whom I Never Met, Left Me Her Entire Estate ($187K) – but What Waited for Me at Home After the Funeral Left Me Speechless

Even though Taylor never knew her birth mother, she anticipated that her adoptive family would be there for her when she got the $187K inheritance. But as she returns to her home after the funeral, she finds a horrible situation she had not expected.

I was raised thinking I was among those who had a bright future ahead. As a newborn, I was given to a couple who had no children and so, I felt only love around me.

Brian and Kayla showed up after all the others. I have three as well, since my parents adopted them with me.

We were tied to each other and shared the same memories. We took over the living space with our pillow forts, exchanged secrets after our bedtimes, and used to say we were real brothers or sisters if kids around us made fun.

We know the habits and ways kids can have.

Mom would tell strangers staring at us that we were all chosen, not because of anything we did. They are unique, but equal in every regard.

I thought that what she said was real. All of us went through the same experience.

However, my belief about being invincible softly broke inside me as I turned 25. Amazing, how such easy things like mail can shape your life in a big way.

The envelope that arrived for me was cream colored and had a stamp from a lawyer’s office. As soon as I received the letter, I started reading it, but I still needed three tries to really understand all the messages in it.

Dear Taylor,

Alina, the person who gave birth to you, unfortunately died last month.

She wanted you to understand she always felt proud of you. She could see your achievements via the agency but never wanted to affect your daily living. Alina was sorry that she did not get the chance to meet you in real life.

You were named the sole beneficiary of your mother’s possession when she found out she had cancer.

In the letter, it was stated that my inheritance consisted of Alina’s home, a life insurance claim, and one account with savings. The overall value of that quarter was $187,000.

I contacted my parents and indicated that we had to meet to talk.

We were all seated as usual around the old oak table. The garlic and oregano from the lasagna rose into the air as it was steaming in the oven.

I said, “She left me it all,” keeping the fork busy on my plate.

The forks hit the dishes as people ate. Dad’s voice changed in a certain way when he wanted to talk about something tough.

“Wow.” Mom softly said as she blinked a few times.

I was waiting to see more happen. Congratulations, maybe. I wondered about the life of this woman or was happy that she remembered me.

Still, there was just a tight silence in return.

What will be the purpose of your research? My dad finally wanted to know the answer.

I said, “I haven’t made up my mind yet.” “Maybe travel. It might be a good idea to finally go ahead with the business idea I’ve shared with you.

I realized that things were not going to be straight forward at that time. In spite of everything, I believed that being family was somehow left unchanged.

It was when Brian and Kayla got the news that their relationship fell apart.

The next day while I was making coffee in the kitchen, Kayla approached me.

Did she make sure you received money when she passed away? It’s just not right,” she said with a sharp voice.

My brain nearly struggled as I made the connection. What is your meaning?

None of us are our parents’ biological children, Taylor. All siblings. It would make sense for us to share the costs.

Brian and I connected again when I was getting an object from Mom’s office. His voice sounded usually low and unpleasant, very different from the one I played Legos with as a child.

You didn’t realize it, but you are not adopted any more than we are. There is no guarantee that someone will reward you with extra love just because you found who you call your ‘real mom.’

I blinked. He just caught my eye and I stared at him right back. She was the mother who gave birth to me, Brian. Mine.”

They acted as if I was mistreating them.

Since I felt alone, I depended on my Mom and Dad for guidance. Wanted the stories to remind us what family is all about.

Big mistake.

“I am afraid that if we tell him, it could cause problems between the family,” Mom said softly. While focusing on washing the dishes, she didn’t look at anything nearby.

He also said, “You might want to discuss it with them” Make a decision that all members are happy with.

An agreement. We worked together as business partners rather than as brothers and sister.

There was never any claim of ownership over the money.

Nobody has said those words to me.

The lack of interest was worse to me than choosing a side would have been.

I tried not to show my feelings and ended the talk earlier. There are moments where remaining silent speaks louder than actually arguing does.

I decided to be by myself at Alina’s funeral.

She visited a small group of five who were sitting on folding chairs in a building that had an aroma of old flowers. There is a simple casket holding a photo of her when she was in her twenties.

She resembled me a lot. Or I had the same appearance as her.

I said, “I’m sorry I did not look for you before,” and touched the wood.

Nobody tried to learn who I was. It is possible they realized. Possibly, people didn’t treat slavery as a significant issue.

At the back of the room, which was empty except for me, I wept for someone who was only a name or face in a photo. Felt like crying for thoughts I was unable to discuss or strangely asked.

I drove back to my place longing for peace. Closure. A gentle resting place after experiencing such an upsetting day.

The minute I drove in and found the boxes sitting outside, I knew something had happened.

I drove to a place where I could park and then ran up the steps. I was totally amazed when I saw my first box and saw everything in it.

All my belongings, including a baby blanket Mom made when I finally arrived, had been cleared out as though I was being removed after not being welcome for long.

Brian entered the room, looking serious, as his arms were tightly across his chest.

You will not stay at my house unless you agree to the inheritance, he claimed.

Kayla said from her seat: “You’re splitting our family in two.”

What is your answer to this? What do you do when people reject your side because they blame you?

I did not have any reactions of crying out or wanting to fight… I didn’t have the necessary skills. All I did was grab my bags and leave the family home without saying a word.

Next thing I got were reminders from my parents: Mom wanted me to stop by and Dad wanted me to just be a little less involved with Brian and Kayle. — I get rid of it by pressing delete.

There are times when a discussion isn’t useful.

I let Alina’s house and got a studio apartment of my own. I attended therapy sessions two times a week and did not spend the inheritance often.

The business I always hoped to create since college days. I developed it. As it turns out, losing everything makes people do things they would never have imagined before.

It took four years for what happened next to take place.

Having four birthdays on my own, that taught me family is not only about our blood or adoption. Sometimes special things happen when we find people who stay by our side no matter what happens.

Hope to get a message from them began to fade.

Next, I got a message from a girl who had been in my class at high school.

“Hey. I hope you are okay. My mom is employed at the senior home found on Maple Street. Your father is in the hospital too.

It took me a min ture to fully read the message.

“He’s sick. He was left by his siblings. Mom continues to visit us every day, yet she always looks a little tired. You can find more about Room 237 if you ask.

There was no talking on the drive to the facility as my hands trembled on the steering wheel.

I didn’t recognize him because he was much thinner than the last time I saw him. His skin was hanging, his eyes were sunken but he still managed to appear kind. As soon as they saw me, they became as bright as porch lights lit up after it gets dark.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he whispered as if everything had been normal. It seemed as if I hadn’t left at all for four years.

I moved right next to him and sat down. Had his hand in mine. Did not ask the reason why Brian and Kayla had left. There was no talk about feeling sorry. Did not talk about the past in any way.

We stayed there without saying much, just watching the light unevenly crosses the window from the afternoon sun.

The doctor stated he was going to need surgery. His heart is unique in some way. Some things that insurance does not cover in full.

I chose to pay for it in an anonymous manner on the following day. A smile came across the nurse’s face. Even though she didn’t recognize me, she didn’t ask why I was interested in an old man in room 237.

My mom called after about three days had gone by.

She said that her friends had told her it was me. The expense for the surgery. My parents said that my relative who knows computers handled it for me.

I gave her the check the day after at the facility and arranged for her to use it for a safe apartment where she did not have to worry about paying for rent when seeing Dad.

She gave me a hug and cried at the same time. I didn’t let go of my pain or emptiness for a long period.

She softly said, “I’m sorry,” as she put her hand on my back. I feel very sorry about it.

It seems that a few apologies take way too long before they’re given. Still, there are times when after some wait, we find what we are searching for.

After a week, Brian messaged me with a worried message and Kayla’s email came full of fake kindness and hints that she needed money. Both options were ignored by me.

This experience taught me a big lesson. Sometimes, you choose not to destroy what you have once worked hard for. Stop walking past the lines once you reach them.

I visited my Dad regularly until he died six months after I had spoken with him.

I kept assisting Mom in getting used to her new home.

Yet Brian and Kayla? They showed their decision by packing up my things outside the house.

In some situations, characters do not reconcile.