Taken from real life. “Sister took over all of her parents' assets”: I was left with nothing, but that's not the end of our story

The truth came out a few days after the funeral

Our childhood was modest, but full of warmth and love. My parents always tried to treat me and my sister, Marta, equally. They always said that what they had would be divided fairly when they were gone. I believed in it. Maybe that's why it hurt me so much when, after their deaths, it turned out that everything they owned went to Marta.

The truth came out a few days after the funeral. I went to the notary to find out what my parents' last wishes were. I sat there with Marta, waiting for the will to be read. I was sure they would treat us equally. But when the notary started reading, I felt like my world was falling apart.

– „I give all my real estate and savings to my daughter Marta. Zofia, my younger daughter, receives our family heirlooms.”

The notary's words sounded like a sentence to me. How is it possible that I was left out? Why didn't my parents leave me anything that would have allowed me a better start in life?

I looked at Marta, who was sitting calmly, as if everything was in line with her expectations.

– “Marta, did you know anything about this?” – I asked in a trembling voice.

She avoided my gaze.

– “Zosia, it was your parents' decision. Maybe they thought it would be better to put all this with me. I don't know. I didn't want to hurt you.”

But I sensed something more than sympathy in her voice. It was satisfaction.

For the next few weeks I tried to understand what had happened. I searched through my memories, searching for answers. I was convinced that there had to be some mistake. And then I discovered the truth – something I never expected.

While going through documents in the family home, I found letters. They were letters written by Marta to her parents, asking them to transfer her estate to her. She claimed that she was in financial trouble, that her marriage was falling apart, and that she needed support to get back on her feet. She also wrote that I would manage, that I had always been independent.

I felt anger rise inside me. Marta not only knew about everything, but she had actively influenced my parents’ decision, manipulating them. I couldn’t believe that my own sister was capable of something like that.

I met with her a few days later. I wanted to hear the truth from her.

– „Marta, I found the letters. How could you do this? How could you deceive your parents and me?!”

She looked surprised for a moment, but she quickly regained her confidence.

– „Zosia, I had to do it. I had no choice. You always had a better job, better prospects. I needed that money more.”

– „But it wasn't your decision! Your parents thought they were doing the right thing because you told them to! You betrayed me, Marta.”

The conversation ended in an argument. Marta showed no remorse. Instead, she began to avoid contact, as if she wanted to erase me from her life. But I wasn't going to give up.

I knew I couldn't get back what had been taken from me, but I could get my own life back.
I started over, building everything on my own terms. Over time, I learned to forgive – not for Marta, but for myself. Our relationship never returned to its former closeness, but I realized that I didn't need her acceptance to be happy.

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