Cassandra Myers was a devoted nurse at a small community hospital who was well-known for her compassion and quiet strength. Despite the fact that nursing was seen as a reliable and honorable career, Cassandra’s financial situation was everything but comfortable. The majority of her earnings were used to pay off the substantial personal and medical bills her parents had incurred after their untimely deaths. Almost nothing remained once the bills were settled and the necessities were taken care of. But Cassandra never voiced any complaints. The ancient two-story house she inherited from her family, tucked away in a quiet but progressively deteriorating neighborhood, was her modest home.
The Whitaker siblings, four elderly brothers and sisters in their eighties who had shared the house next door for as long as anybody could remember, were her closest neighbors. Instead of getting married, Harold, Mabel, Thomas, and Edith Whitaker had decided to age together in the house they had shared since they were young. Their eyesight had become blurry, stairs had become a terrible enemy, and arthritis afflicted their joints. They were still proud and fiercely independent, and they were hesitant to seek assistance.
Cassandra had begun to assist them gradually because of her innately compassionate nature. Little things like getting up prescription drugs, bringing groceries up their porch steps, and checking in during snowstorms were the first steps. However, her function subtly changed as the years went by and their needs increased. She started cooking, taking them to appointments, and helping with the everyday chores that most people take for granted, like cleaning, bathing, and laundry. She never demanded anything in exchange. It was just the correct thing to do, in her opinion.
In spite of their weakness, the Whitakers were extremely appreciative and grew close to Cassandra, viewing her as an honorary niece. They were dependent on her not only because they had no other close relatives left.
The Whitaker siblings died one by one over time, each one a silent, heartbreaking farewell. With every empty room in the house next door, Cassandra’s heart grew heavier as she lamented each loss. Cassandra found herself alone in her own home and in spirit after Edith, the last of the four, died quietly while she slept.
As Cassandra helped oversee the estate and go through Edith’s items, she discovered a neatly wrapped envelope nestled beneath a battered family Bible. A copy of the siblings’ will was present. Her breath froze in her throat as she opened it with shaky hands.
Her life would be altered by what she found.
Cassandra would frequently witness the siblings’ difficulties with their daily tasks. As they grew older, they had to cook for themselves every day, transport their groceries, clean their home and yard, and take out the trash.
Every time Cassandra returned home from her hospital shifts, she offered to help them since she knew they needed it. The four sisters truly enjoyed Cassandra’s company and were grateful for this.
The oldest sister, Marie, once told Cassandra, “You are a gift from heaven.” She said, “Will you at least let us compensate you for your assistance?”
Cassandra gave a headshake. “Oh no, Marie. I’m not going to let you pay me! I act in this way out of concern for you, not because I
Cassandra assisted them each day by preparing their meals and cleaning up after them. She also provided them with one-on-one assistance, helping them get dressed and organizing their maintenance medications.
“Why didn’t you ever go to a nursing home?” Cassandra asked them one day while they were eating supper together. They can undoubtedly care for you more effectively than I can.
Another sister, Clara, stated that they had little faith in nursing facilities. “We intended to live out the rest of our days together. We wouldn’t be able to share a room if we were placed in a nursing home, and we’d have to interact with a lot of other people,” she said.
“Cassandra nodded, comprehending the sisters’ perspective. “All right,” she informed them. “You need not be concerned. You can rely on me to assist you as long as I am able to,” she grinned. “That’s the purpose of neighbors!”
Lisa, the second oldest sibling, touched her hand and said, “You are the best neighbor anyone could ask for.”
Every time Cassandra returned home from the hospital, she made time to see the siblings, regardless of how exhausted she was. She would take care of all their needs after they finished their meal together and went home to sleep.
Unfortunately, the inevitable started to occur as time went on. As the siblings died one by one, Cassandra was left to plan their funerals and deal with their loss.
She cleaned their house after the last of the sisters passed away and went to the last funeral, which was attended by no one but a lawyer who identified herself as Attorney Abigail Smith.
She was informed by Abigail that she must be Cassandra. “I appreciate you looking after the sisters over the years. I’ve been hearing a lot about you.
Cassandra smiled tearfully at her. Being with them was a pleasure. I shall really miss each and every one of them.
The attorney disclosed that Cassandra needed to come into her office that same week in order to talk to her about something. Despite her confusion, Cassandra committed to going to the lawyer’s office the next day.
The attorney gave her a document when she arrived. Mindy, Marie, Clara, and Lisa all had kids. They live in neighboring states, but I’m sure you’ve never met them because they didn’t bother to attend any of the funerals. She revealed that the sisters changed their will after realizing their children didn’t give a damn about them.
“They left you everything,” Attorney Abigail disclosed. “Everything you will inherit from them, including cash, jewelry, and the home they occupied, is listed in the document.”
Cassandra’s mouth fell open. She was shocked to learn that, despite having kids, her neighbors had left their whole estate with her. “That’s not possible! She exclaimed, startled, “I don’t deserve all of these.”
Abigail, the lawyer, shrugged. “Cassandra, you do. To them, you were more of a daughter than their own kids. They believed you were the legitimate heir to their wealth,” she reassured her.
Cassandra was unsure about her thoughts. When she saw the document that explicitly said she would inherit the riches left by the four sisters, she began to shake. Although she was unsure about what to do with the money, she quickly saw that it would be more than sufficient to settle her late parents’ outstanding bills.
What does this narrative teach us?
When you have the opportunity to assist someone, take use of it. Cassandra volunteered to help her elderly neighbors without asking for anything. When her neighbors realized she cared for them more than their own children did, they eventually came to believe she was the legitimate heir to their estate.
Before it’s too late, spend time with your loved ones. Their children learned how much time they had wasted ignoring their mothers when the sisters passed away. Since it was too late to change the past, they were forced to leave bouquets on their graves each year and lamented not spending more time with them while they were still living.