My Grandma Rosalind always used to say, “Love is the greatest inheritance.” At fifteen, I didn’t fully understand what she meant—but I would soon learn. At 89, Grandma was my constant companion. While most kids my age were busy with friends or video games, I spent my afternoons listening to her stories and brushing her silver hair. My relatives, especially Uncle Bill, teased me relentlessly for being “Grandma’s shadow.” But I didn’t care. I knew time was precious, and she was growing older. One day, we got the heartbreaking news—Grandma had lost her hearing. I was devastated,
thinking it would change everything. But Grandma, with her usual grace, just smiled and carried on. She insisted we go ahead with the surprise birthday party I’d planned for her. That day, while setting up balloons and decorations, I overheard something that shattered my heart. Uncle Bill, Aunt Sarah, and a few others were in the kitchen, laughing cruelly. They called Grandma “old and stupid,” and shamelessly discussed how they’d divide up her belongings once she was gone. What they didn’t know—what I hadn’t realized—was that Grandma had been pretending to be deaf all along. She caught my eye and smiled, her expression calm but knowing. Later that night, we came up with a plan. Quietly and carefully,