Shattered Innocence

Unwanted Inheritance

Both of us turn to Bert, confused and shocked. "What?" we ask in unison as Lilith steps closer, dropping her crossed arms as he smiles at us both. I couldn't believe that I truly did own it after all. I thought it was another trick.

"It's so good to see you together again."

"Bert, please, what did you mean?" Lilith demands. It's the harshest she's probably ever spoken to him, but he takes it in stride. "I simply mean it is her home. It's in her name, Lilith. I know you haven't seen the will yet, but I was the one to witness it for him. Your father, well, he left everything to Nora."

The silence could be cut by a knife. Shock fills me, then anger. It's just another way to get back at me, another fucking punch in the gut and a way to haunt me even as he's dead.

"You can't be serious." I laugh.

"Deadly, I'm afraid." Bert nods. "He expected you would be angry, upset even, but he told me to tell you one thing. Please excuse me if it's not verbatim, it's been many years. 'Nora, the house, the money, and the labs are all yours to do with as you wish. I hope they help you understand. I hope they set you on the path.'"

"What the fuck does that mean?" I snarl, throwing my hands up.

"I do not know."

"Dad knew you were alive? And he left everything to you? The kid who ran away?" Lilith almost screeches.

"If you need money, you can have it—" I start as she snorts bitterly.

"I don't need money! I just didn't want my childhood home being destroyed or sold! It was all I had left of you, of us, and now him." Her face scrunches like it used to when she was sad. I reach for her, but she jerks away.

"I don't want it, any of it," I tell her. "I have my own life, my own things. It's all yours, I promise, I just need to get something—"

"I don't want it. Congratulations, Nora. As usual, you get all the attention and everything you ever wanted."

With that spiteful comment, she flees, leaving me staring after her. Everything I ever wanted? All I ever wanted was to be happy, to be safe, and to be with her again.