One look and everything changed (English version)

Chapter 23

Beatrice

Lady Mary's lawyer, whom I did not even know existed, called to tell me that lady Mary did not want a funeral, that she wanted to be cremated and that she wanted her ashes tossed into the sea. For that reason I am going to order her to be cremated. The lawyer also called me to say that tomorrow afternoon would be made the reading of the will and that I had to be present. Since I was the only person who had to be there I suggested that reading be done here at the apartment. The next day I decided not to go to college because I have things to do and since I'm going to do something that will make me very emotional, I thought it would not be good to go to college like this.I told Caroline that I will not go to the college today, I told her what I was going to do, she still asked if I wanted company, but I'd rather do it myself, besides that, lady Mary warned the lawyer that she wanted me to be the person to handle it. Here I am carrying the ashes of lady Mary. I decided to throw them in a place that Mary liked very much, a place where she brought me once. Before opening the urn to throw the ashes into the sea I resolve to say a few words aloud, because no one else is here and even if it was I did not want to know. 

Lady Mary, you were and you are the most important person in my life. I had no one, I was abandoned and you welcomed me as if I were a member of your family. I will never have enough words to thank you for what you have done for me. That day when you came to the orphanage and took me out of there was one of the happiest days of my life. Thank you for every moment, thank you for taking such good care of me. And sorry, I'm sorry I never called you a mother or grandmother, since you had age to be my  grandmother. I really regret this but now I say with all pride, thank you grandmother, thank you mother because you fit perfectly in that role. I love you and I hope that wherever you are, you are in peace because you deserve it. I'm so happy to have been part of your life. I love you today and always. 

It is impossible don't crie after I say this words, so I crie. After saying them, I open the urn and I throw the ashes of lady Mary into the sea. When I finish I decide to stay here, I sit down and I just stay here looking at  the sea and thinking about my life. After a while I decided to leave and go home. The day goes by until it is time to read the will. The lawyer rings the doorbell, I open it, and then we sit down on the living room sofa. The lawyer begins to read the will that says:

I,Maria, in perfect psychological conditions, decide to leave my house and all my patrimony,  which includes my country house  all my personal belongings and a savings account of a lifetime, to my adopted daughter Beatrice.

The lawyer says:

-And that's it.

-This must be one of the most direct and short wills you must have read in life. Lady Mary spoke of a country house, but I have never heard about this house. Do you know where it's right?

-Do not worry that I believe that lady Mary explains everything in a letter that she told me to give her. Here is the letter and here also the country house keys. Regarding the money it will be transferred to your account soon. I just need your signature here and my work is done. 

I read the paper that just says that I accept the inheritance that was left to me and after that the lawyer goes away.I go back to sit on the couch and decide to open the letter. I start to read the letter. 

My dear Beatrice, my beloved adopted daughter, I write this letter to explain to you everything that has happened and the meaning you have in my life. At this point you should be asking why I did not tell you about the fact that I was sick and how long I know I'm sick. I discovered early this summer that I was sick and the doctors gave me months of life and said that I no longer had a cure for what I had. I did not tell you because it was your first year of college, because it had no cure, so I did not want to worry you. If you are reading this letter it is because you did not discover that I was sick, so do not try searching for the signs of my disease and do not be upset with yourself for not having noticed because I was the one who tried so hard that you did not know. Now I do not want to talk about sad things so forget my disease. Let's talk about good things, the meaning you have in my life. As you know I have no family, as you know I lost my daughter and my granddaughter in a fire years ago and it shook me a lot. I was very depressed but after a while I decided to volunteer in an orphanage. I liked all the children in the orphanage, but you have been special since the first time I saw you. I did not intend to adopt anyone, I was just going to volunteer but when I saw you I felt a huge need to take care of you. I still remember the first time I saw you, the first thing we talked about, everything, and I remember most of all your happiness the day you left the orphanage to live with me. You brought joy back into my life. Taking care of you was a privilege because there is no doubt that without you my life was not the same. I  love you so much, my dear, and I loved every moment I had by your side. I am very proud of the person you became and I am sure that you will be a great journalist just like you always dreamed.If in the box that comes with this letter does not come the indication of the necklace of eighteen, then it is because I fortunately managed to give you the necklace. Never forget the phrase it says, always follow your heart, I followed mine years ago when it told me to adopt you and undoubtedly was a very good decision that made me happy so do not forget this. You should also be asking yourself about the country house, I never took you there because I could not get back there after the death of my daughter and my granddaughter, but the house is in good condition because I always had someone see the state of the house. I've never been able to get rid of this house and I'm sure you're going to love it. It's in the middle of nowhere, literally, but it's a very beautiful place. You think that it is you who have to thank me for having saved you, but it is precisely the opposite that must happen. Thank you for everything because in reality you are the one who saved my life, you returned to give a purpose to it. I love you very much today and always. I wish you the best that life can give. Be happy,

                                                                                                    With love from your mother / grandmother Mary

Reading this letter only made me cry but at the same time it made me happy because I was important in someone's life, I was important in the life of lady May and that means a lot to me. And I'm here on the couch rereading the letter a few times ...