The couple lived well. They got married when they were 30 years old. Their son was born. They had an ordinary friendly family. They had a lot of money. They bought an apartment, rebuilt their dacha into a nice house with all conveniences. They went on holidays abroad. Her husband was faithful to her. She never thought about other men.
Her son grew up, married a nice girl. They’re both 20 years old. Just like me and my husband, only ten years earlier, rejoiced the woman. The young couple’s parents bought them a small apartment.
The woman rejoiced quietly. But over the years, whether it was her age or a suddenly arising superstition, she became wary of this serene life. What could not happen.
Well, it happened.
Her husband died.
The woman came to her senses for a long time. But slowly she learned to live a new life. She went to work. She used to be a housewife.
In-laws said, it is necessary to open the inheritance. She and her son went to the notary. Half of the property is hers, and half of her husband, I guess, is also hers. It seems there are no unconditional heirs, my husband’s parents have long gone.
But after a while, the notary invited her back. At the table sat an unfamiliar woman.
Your husband’s share was bequeathed to her.
The woman didn’t understand anything, she looked from the notary to the woman. She seemed old and unattractive. She was already 50 years old, which meant that this one was older, what was the connection between her and her husband.
The notary explained that there is a will. The man made it 27 years ago, but since it has not been revoked by a later one, it is in force of law.
Stranger
They fell in love with each other like a movie. They are young, just graduated from college. Their whole lives ahead of them. The girl flew to see the guy like a holiday that never seemed to end.
He was her first man, and he appreciated that. He took care of her, called her – you’re my baby, even though they were the same age. She laughed happily.
And one day they watched a movie in which the lovers mutually wrote a will for each other. And they liked the idea so much that with a laugh they also wrote to each other – all mine is yours. Forever and ever. My friend told them that it was just a piece of paper, it needed to be sealed. So they went to the notary. Then they drank champagne and loved each other. You’re my wife, you’re my husband.
But then life began. The man’s father fell ill, and he and his mother took him abroad for treatment.
And the girl met a couple of times with a buddy and got pregnant. He proposed. Her mother told her to get married, where is this boyfriend of yours, and here is a reliable option. The boyfriend didn’t answer her letters.
She got married. They left for another city, where her husband was offered a good job. A daughter was born, but the family did not work out, they divorced.
About that will, of course, she remembered, and had long ago written a new one for her daughter.
She was very surprised when the registered letter arrived. She had forgotten her former love, or so she thought. And then she saw his name and it all came back to her. How she loved him!
THE WITNESS.
The man had forgotten all about the will because of all the problems with his father. His father was gone, then his mother became ill. When he came to find out that his girlfriend had gotten married and moved to another city, he ordered himself to forget her. He met his future wife. There was no love, but he liked her for her reliability. They lived well together.
And what could be done? Would she take half of it? The woman asked.
How strange that he left this will, it means he loved her so much, she thought. And I will take this half as a memory of him.
– Now half of your estate is mine,” she told the woman.
And it’s no small thing. The apartment, the house, the car, the money in the account.
The woman had grown wan. First the death of her husband, now this will as a betrayal.
So many years together, he never once remembered an ex-girlfriend!
And now to give her so much money.
She filed a lawsuit, but nothing has changed, only frayed nerves.
They gave the woman the money.
She bought a new apartment, and she and her daughter went to the sea.
Thank you, she said, every day.
