The Last Will Poem by Sandra Martyres

A sombre look greeted her
As she entered the door
Of the old family mansion
Her last visit was almost
A quarter century earlier
The day she was asked to
Leave home as she had
Decided to marry a pauper
The man of her choice
Defying her parents’ wishes

Today she had been summoned
By the lawyers to be present
For the reading of her father's will
He had died a few weeks earlier
Her Mother was dressed in black
Looking the true distraught widow
She barely raised her eyes to throw
As much as a glance at her daughter
It made her wonder if she had done
The right thing by coming after all

The Lawyer had given her no choice
He said that it was her father's last wish
That she should be present there and
That should be reconciled with the family
At least after his death - he never forgave
Himself for her departure - being proud
He did not want to admit it to anyone
But in death there is no pride so he felt
This was his last chance to take care of
The future of his middle-aged daughter

Her only sibling - an older sister considered
To be the heir apparent remarked on how
Slim and young she looked despite her
Her husband's poverty which she imagined
Would have taken a toll on her life making
Her feel very uncomfortable in their midst
None of them had bothered to keep in touch
Her sophisticated look and designer outfit
Came as a surprise to all, but the real shock
That awaited them was yet to be unveiled

In his last will, the father had left his entire
Fortune to her with a single word...' Sorry'