I felt it was a mistake when my late father left me a house I had never heard of, but then I discovered a woman living there who claimed it as her own. Everything I knew was destroyed by what she disclosed.

As I pulled my coat tighter and hurried toward the notary’s office, the rain continued to beat down on the rooftops.

My dad had left. I kept thinking about it. He had always been my pillar of support, but in recent years, the weight of incomprehensible debt had caused that pillar to crumble.

cannot bear for you to go. I’ve been hating and blaming myself for everything I did for years. And I let all of that out on you when you arrived. However, Emily, you are my daughter. I do not wish to lose you once more.”

I was frozen by what she said. “Are you serious?”

“I want us to give it a shot. Even if this isn’t ideal, I want us to correct it. I apologize so much.”

I gazed at her, taking in the significance of what she had said. Without giving it any thought, I moved forward and gave her a hug. Her arms encircled me tightly as she first tensed up and then relaxed.

“I apologize as well, Mom.”

We cleaned, organized old boxes, and uncovered memories throughout the course of the next weeks. The house gradually changed from a battlefield to a healing space. I discovered that forgiveness and starting over are key components of family.