The Inheritance

-By Jarrett Pritchett

As I lay on the ground, I could feel the pool of blood growing larger beneath me... I took in yet another slow and ragged breath, not understanding how I was still among the living. Turning over onto my back, and squinting in the early morning light, I tried to pull the glass that protruded from my stomach out. This was certainly not what I had imagined when I decided to come here earlier this week. To think that just days ago I was doing just fine... Before this mistake... I shut my eyes remembering everything that had happened within just two days.

*Two days earlier...*
"Can I help you sir?" Janine, the receptionist, looked up from her computer as I arrived and turned to me with a smile. "I believe that Mr. Callahan sent for me, my name is Liam Dolan. If you could let him know that I am here, that would be greatly appreciated." I said returning her smile. "Of course! He'll be with you shortly, have a seat right over there." she gestured to a small waiting area in a corner of the room. "Thank you." I said, turning and striding towards a chair across the room. I stopped for a moment to take a look at a fish tank humming near the chairs. A small catfish glides smoothly across the bottom and the smaller fish inside scatter as I approach. The catfish turned towards me and stared suspiciously, as if to say 'You don't belong here.' I took my seat waiting to be called in. I knew that I shouldn't be here, but Callahan was my Great Grandmothers' attorney, and she had just passed. For some reason, she had chosen me to be her only heir.

Everyone knew that she wasn't going to be around much longer. She was already eighty-six years old. The family despised her for being 'harsh' and 'different' than everyone else. While everyone else insulted her when they thought she couldn't hear and acted rudely towards her, I did everything I could to make her smile. She had always been so friendly towards me, so I knew it was only right to do the same. I was the only kind relative that she had, which, I suppose, is why she picked me to be the one to inherit her estate. That was why I had come to meet with the lawyer today. He wanted to discuss the conditions of Grandmother Eileen's will with me.

"Mr. Dolan? Mr. Callahan will see you now." Janine called from behind her desk, cutting into my thoughts. I stood and walked towards the door that she was holding open for me. "Right through here." "Thank you" I said as I stepped into his office and she closed the door quietly behind me. I crossed over to the desk where a short and portly man sat behind a massive pile of papers. He was making himself busy, scribbling away on an important-looking document. He didn't look up as I reached the side of the desk, instead he said gruffly "Sit down, why don't you?" I sat down in a soft rolling chair directly across from him and looked around. I noted the time slowly ticking away on his grandfather clock. A small set of newton balls sat untouched on his desk, I reached for it and let the ball fall setting off the chain reaction. They moved side-to-side as the lawyer finally looked up from what he was working on. "Ahem." he cleared his throat narrowing his eyes at me and stopping the newton balls from moving.

"I am certain that you are aware of the circumstances under which I called you here." I nod slowly. "Eileen was very fond of you. In her last days she spoke of you frequently." I leaned in, listening intently. "She was completely sure that you DESERVED to have her estate once she was gone." I confirmed "Yes sir, she had discussed it with me before." "However..." he said with a bit of an irritated tone, "She spoke of another contender for her belongings." I looked quizzically at him, having no idea what he was talking about. "Her granddaughter Alicia is also going to be competing to receive the inheritance." My face got red hot, and I clenched my fists. Alicia was my least favorite cousin, all our lives she insulted me and tried to one-up me. Anything I did, she did, but she did it better. I sighed, and sat back, relaxing somewhat and asked "But since she isn't here, I will recieve all of the estate without conditions?" He nodded and spoke "Yes, that is what I was going to let y-" he trailed off and looked at something in the direction of the door. A sing-song voice from behind me chirped "You didn't think I'd let you just HAVE everything did you Liam?"