By pepko 
The Treasure Grandpa Left Behind
At my grandpa’s funeral, I felt more alone than I’d ever been. While my relatives scowled and muttered about the measly $1 inheritance, I stood by the graveside, staring blankly at the flowers on his casket. The autumn wind carried whispers of bitterness and disappointment, thick like syrup in the chilly air.
Mourning Grandpa—or His Money?
A single red rose lay among a sea of white daisies on Grandpa’s coffin. It was my rose, the only color amidst the bland homage everyone else offered. Grandpa was my safe haven, the one person who had truly seen me for who I was.
Aunt Nancy’s furious voice broke through my thoughts.
“One dollar! That’s all we get? He had plenty, and this is what he leaves us?”
“Spiteful old man,” Uncle Vic added with a bitter laugh.
Even my mom chimed in, crossing her arms tightly. “He always played favorites. Maybe he left something for Dahlia, the golden child.”
Their accusing eyes turned toward me.
“I got the same as all of you,” I said flatly.
But they didn’t believe me.
Mom gripped my shoulder. “Think hard, Dahlia. If he told you anything, you owe it to your family to share.”
Her tone cut deep, but I stayed quiet. Grandpa’s stories about treasure and the goofy way he’d wink when he teased me about it flooded my memory. Could there have been something more?
A Stranger and a Secret
As my family stormed off, too angry to mourn, a woman approached me. Her kind eyes and worn leather bag contrasted sharply with my relatives’ cold glares.
“You must be Dahlia,” she said softly, pressing a folded piece of paper into my hand. “Your grandpa wanted you to have this. Don’t let your family see it.”
I unfolded the note after she disappeared into the crowd.
111 locker — Southern Railway Station.
My heart raced as the realization hit me: Grandpa’s “treasure” wasn’t just a story.
Finding the Treasure
I couldn’t sleep that night, the note tucked safely under my pillow. The next morning, I slipped out unnoticed, caught a cab, and headed to Southern Railway Station.
The station was bustling—commuters, travelers, and strangers weaving through the crowd. My nerves twisted as I searched for locker 111.
When I found it, my hands trembled as I inserted the key taped to the note. The lock resisted briefly before clicking open. Inside was an old duffel bag.
The weight of it was promising. Unzipping it, I gasped. It was filled with cash—bundles upon bundles. At least $150,000.
Tucked inside was another note:
“For my beloved granddaughter. Everything I saved is now yours. Take it and live free, kiddo. The rest of the family may not see your worth, but I always have.”
A New Beginning
Tears blurred my vision as I clutched the note. It wasn’t just about the money—it was Grandpa’s way of setting me free. He had seen my struggles and given me a way out.
By the time I got home, I’d made up my mind. I wasn’t staying. I booked a ticket to anywhere and told the cab driver to take me to the airport.
With the duffel bag on my lap and Grandpa’s note in my pocket, I smiled.
For the first time in my life, I felt free.