Charles, 79, could no longer live in his country house because his niece had decided to commit him to a nursing home. His greedy niece prevented him from fulfilling his dying wish: to leave his home to a poor single mother. But when the young mother entered the house, she discovered something that changed her life forever.
Charlie had been living alone in his small but cozy country house since his wife’s death. He had always been able to care for himself and never needed anyone else’s help. Nonetheless, as he grew older, the challenges of living alone increased. Even at 79, he tried to keep the house and yard clean, although his energy and health could no longer keep up with his will.
Charlie was changing logs in the fireplace when the ringing of his phone echoed through the house. On the other end was his niece, who raised the same old topic again: “Uncle, we shouldn’t even be talking about this; you need to go to a nursing home RIGHT NOW. There will be health professionals and everything else ready to take care of you in the best way possible!” she said respectfully.
She persisted, claiming that the older man would have activities to do and people around him, so he would no longer be alone. Charlie listened to all the arguments and eventually agreed to live in a nursing home. He knew his niece, Sophia, would insist until he conceded.
Since the death of his only son, Charlie had no one else in his life except for Sophia, who rarely visited but always tried to persuade him to move out. Although he agreed to go, he wanted to know what she planned to do with his country house and its small plot, which included a lovely garden that his late wife had planted and he had lovingly maintained over the years.
Sophia listened carefully and decided it would be best to sell the place, promising Charlie he could keep all the money. “And well, of course, I won’t mind if you leave me a small commission,” she said playfully but mischievously.
However, it seemed Charlie had made up his mind since he agreed to go to the nursing home. He had one wish, which was simple: he wanted to give his house to Emilly, a neighbor. She was a single mother with two bright children who was living in a crumbling house that the city might condemn. Even with low rent, she was on the verge of eviction.
Since meeting Charlie, Emilly had shown herself to be honest and kind, so Charlie felt compelled to help her. With two young children and no one to depend on, he believed such a wonderful woman shouldn’t have to live in unhealthy circumstances.
Sophia didn’t like the idea and quickly voiced her displeasure to her uncle, suggesting Emilly might be a gold digger and was untrustworthy. Sophia promised to consider his request to reassure him and win him over to the idea of living in the nursing home. But neither Sophia nor Emilly realized that Charlie would leave something worth much more than the house itself.
Emilly, 27, had been abandoned by her husband and lost her mother, leading to a deep depression that affected her professional life and her two children. Emilly and Charlie had known each other for two years, since her eldest son helped him carry his groceries back home from the supermarket. Since then, Emilly and her children assisted Charlie with small tasks, especially cooking, as the older man had been eating poorly after his wife’s death. Despite his repeated offers, Emilly never accepted any payment. She thought of her late father when she spoke to Charlie and felt happy to help him.
She observed that Charlie lived a solitary and frugal existence, and she appreciated the small meals he prepared for her and her children. As years passed, the two loners became unlikely friends. The older man occasionally invited Emilly and her children for lunch. They respected each other, and Emilly listened attentively to his advice, as if he had become a mentor.
Charlie noticed his depression easing, while Emilly found comfort in helping him and having a friend she could confide in.
When Charlie told Emilly he was moving to a nursing home, he couldn’t hold back the tears. His niece had been calling every week for three years to get him out of his country house, and he no longer had the energy to argue. He would have been happy living there until his last breath, having built it with his wife.
“But in this life, we can’t have everything we want, can we?” he said, resigned.
Emilly hugged him, offering her help. He thanked her: “Emilly, I appreciate you making me feel useful again.”
Within a month, Charlie was transferred to a nursing home. His niece Sophia chose the location and completed the paperwork quickly. She didn’t consult him about his preferences. Emilly didn’t see Charlie move out; she only suspected he had left because she never saw him at the market or near the house.
Her children missed playing with the older man. So Emilly went to his house occasionally, hoping to see him and say goodbye properly. But it was Sophia she found stuffing dusty items into worn-out boxes. Emilly thought Charlie had told his niece about her and introduced herself, offering assistance.
However, when she inquired about Charlie’s whereabouts, Sophia said rudely, “Get out of here, filthy! I know who you are, and I don’t want you near MY backyard. Unlike my uncle, I won’t give you money to support your children or your addictions!”
Emilly was stunned. She remained silent, unsure how to react. Sophia ignored her attempts to reason, kicking her off the property and threatening to call the police.
Emilly was sickened by Sophia’s rudeness but decided to find Charlie herself. She left her children at the community daycare and set out early the next day. She knew of three nursing homes nearby, two close to her neighborhood and one in a remote region.
After visiting the first two, her hopes were dashed. She wondered if Sophia had placed him in the most remote location possible. She missed a bus and walked for hours to reach the third nursing home, arriving exhausted. She asked if Charlie was a resident there and if he could receive visitors. She phrased it carefully to avoid suspicion.
To her surprise, the receptionist said he was there and could receive visits, but only from family. “It’s okay; I’m his niece,” Emilly said without flinching, hoping to see her friend finally.
“Oh yes, I was wondering why I only heard your voice all these weeks. You finally came to visit your uncle; I think he could use the company,” the nurse replied. This made it clear that Sophia hadn’t looked for her uncle since he moved in.
Emilly hurried through the hallways as visiting hours were ending, hoping to make the most of her time with Charlie. She also needed to pick up her kids soon. She was excited to see her friend but was shocked by what she saw. Charlie appeared more ill and frail than ever as he lay in bed, a dejected expression on his face.
The old man smiled when he saw Emilly and asked the nurse to sit him up so he could talk to her. She sat by his bed, and he asked slowly how she and her children were doing. Emilly hated to break bad news, but she admitted her youngest had been sick for a few weeks, and doctors hadn’t yet identified what was wrong, which worried her.
As he listened, Charlie seemed to gain strength as if deciding his future. He whispered to Emilly what he had wanted to say, and her worried expression changed to one of shock. “There’s no way such a thing is possible! You’re kidding, Charlie!” she exclaimed.
Charlie chuckled, relieved to have it off his chest. He shook her hand and said, “I would have left it to my son, but he left before I could give him this gift. It’s yours! Use it to take care of your child so he stays well and healthy.”
The nurse entered, informing Emilly that visiting hours were over. She stood up, smiled at Charlie, and said, “Don’t expect to get rid of me so easily, Charlie. I’ll be back tomorrow, only earlier, and we’ll go over everything.”
She didn’t realize these would be her final words to her dear friend.
The next day, Emilly dropped her children off at daycare and went to the nursing home with a pot of pasta, Charlie’s favorite dish. But she was shocked to learn that Charlie had died early that morning. The nurse said they had called his other niece in the early hours.
Without answering, Emilly hurried away, looking disappointed. Charlie had been her best friend for years, and now he was gone for good. She returned home devastated to find yet another eviction notice taped to the door.
After absorbing the news, she headed to the cottage. She was taken by mixed feelings on the way, knowing the house was hers according to Charlie’s last wish, but she’d no longer have him to share her joy.
Emilly retrieved the spare key from under the rug and sat on the couch. She couldn’t stop thinking about how Charlie had died alone. The house now felt empty.
To the children, Charlie had been like a grandfather. She remembered what he had whispered during their last conversation, went to his room, and pushed his bed aside to reveal a small trapdoor.
Thinking it was another joke from her friend, she crouched and opened it slowly. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Inside the box were seven gold bars, so gleaming they looked fake.
Emilly had only seen something like this in movies. That was Charlie’s life savings, explaining his frugal lifestyle. He had intended to leave it to his son, but after his death, he saw the gold as useless except for the excellent use Emilly would put it to.
She was shaking nervously, not knowing whether to put them back or run home. After some thought, she placed the gold in a sturdier box and went to the door, putting her plan into practice.
The next day, she cleaned the house thoroughly and
hung a picture of Charlie near the door, placing a candle in his honor. The house had space for her children, but two days later, Sophia arrived and was horrified to find Emilly living there.
Outraged, she demanded to know what she was doing. Emilly told Sophia about her visit to Charlie on his last day and his promise that the house and everything inside now belonged to her and her children.
Sophia mocked Emilly, accusing her of being a gold digger and suggesting she had mental problems. “Do you think my uncle would leave his house to a stranger and two brats?”
Sophia called the police, and twenty minutes later, an officer knocked on the door. He listened to both sides and said politely, “Madam, to validate this, I need to see a will proving the house is yours. Otherwise, please leave.”
Emilly was speechless, and her children saw everything. She carefully removed their belongings and left.
Sophia said she would continue reporting Emilly for trespassing and try to put her behind bars.
Weeks later, Sophia would regret her arrogance.
Due to Sophia’s complaint, Emilly had to defend herself in court. With no criminal record and two children depending on her, she was released but needed a public defender. She received a restraining order barring her from the cottage, so she didn’t see the “for sale” sign in the yard.
Sophia left all of Charlie’s belongings behind for the buyer. One of the offers came from Andrew, a lawyer at a well-known firm. He told Sophia he was interested and would pay in cash because the house wasn’t worth much.
Since other offers involved payment plans, Sophia immediately accepted. She planned to hand over the keys in two weeks. She told Andrew she couldn’t do so until she had removed all the “old junk,” but he assured her he was in a hurry and would accept it as is.
Sophia couldn’t have been happier, arranging to meet him the next day to hand over the keys and receive her money. At 9 a.m. Wednesday, Andrew arrived in a luxury car with tinted glass. He introduced himself and said he was happy to close the deal.
He opened a suitcase full of cash and let Sophia count every bill. Once she finished, she signed the papers Andrew gave her and expressed her happiness. With a piercing gaze, Andrew looked at her and said, “Thank you, but I think it’s better to congratulate the new owner of the house. I’m just here to ensure it’s legalized.”
The passenger door of the car opened, and a woman wearing impeccable clothes stepped out. Sophia seemed to recognize her but was unsure. Once she sat at the table, Sophia realized it was Emilly.
“This is Emilly, my client and the new owner. Please hand over the keys.”
Sophia was so shocked she couldn’t move. She felt humiliated, coerced, and utterly confused. Reluctantly, she handed over the keys.
Emilly finally said what she had been meaning to: “You only cared about what your uncle could give you, not his wishes. Because of you, he died alone in that nursing home. Living with this guilt won’t be easy. I’m sorry you didn’t see what a remarkable person he was, but I’m relieved he didn’t have to live with you.
“I’m glad you met my attorney because we’ll soon be suing you for elder coercion and mistreatment. Get ready to lose the money you just received. See you in court.”
And that’s how Emilly said goodbye to Sophia that day, closing the door while staring into her furious eyes.
She promised to respect the country house that Charlie and his wife had worked so hard to build. She assured the lawyer she would raise her children with pride there.
The young mother lit the candle beneath Charlie’s photograph. That night, she slept soundly, knowing her old friend’s wishes had finally come true.
