The Inheritance

A young woman loved and admired a man for his many charms. He was the quiet type, mysterious, cryptic at times, extremely wise and intelligent (in fact he was a genius), and to her he was many things, including teacher, father, brother, lover and friend. He spent a very long time getting to know the woman, taking interest in her and her life; she would say he knew her more than most. He knew about her dreams and sometimes he knew what they meant. He was not rich, and only lived with the bare necessities. She did not care that he didn't have any money; she loved him anyway.

Later in the friendship, he was usually quiet, and the young woman mistook it for a disinterest in her, and it pained her that he failed to notice her at times, especially when she did everything to get his attention again. Sometimes she would resort to behaving like a child and would throw temper tantrums when she didn't have her way.

She adored this man for many, many years, until the day of his death. He had a will, but because he didn't have much, there was nothing to leave to anyone. But he did leave behind something, and it was the most valueable inheritance of all. The will specified that upon his death, a sealed envelope was to be given to the young woman.

She was mourning his death when she received a letter in the mail. It did not have a return address so before opening it she did not know who it was from. The letter inside read, "I couldn't show you how much I cared for you, but you should know, I loved you."

The woman laid the letter aside while her eyes spilled tears of joy. For, while he didn't show his love during his life, he left her a most meaningful gift. Now in her memories she would know, that the silent man loved her after all, and she could live the rest of her life knowing the happy truth.