Three days was spent with me working overtime and drowning myself in work. Then I used my time at home to start packing. My packing looked tacky. Whatever I could fit in garbage bags, I did. What I couldn't, were put in small boxes that I could find around the apartment and also stuffed into garbage bags. Then whatever else I couldn't pack at all, like my bed, was going to be left behind. Left for the shady landlord to deal with.

It was kind of sad to see my life packed into four large trash bags and one trunk I saved from the curb. My clothes alone barely filled one trash back and I was able to fit my bedding with them to fill up the bag. The other bags were filled with toiletry, pillows, and other little stuff I managed to collect over the years on my own. The trunk was the most important cargo. All of my art supplies was inside and the thought of finally being able to have a space for it brought a small smile to my face.

A sudden knock on the door told me that Kate Wilson had finally arrived. I went to let her into my sorry excuse of a home. Fear of what she might think of the place filled me with dread, but she just smiled at me as she walked in.

She went straight to the trash bags, "Is this all of it?"

Ashamed to answer, I just nodded my head. Kate looked like she was more ready to go to the gym then help me move. Shoe wore white sneakers, black yoga pants, and a tank top that didn't hid her curves. It was so odd to see her dressed so casual when so far I've only seen her in a professional setting.

"Thanks for helping me move," I heard myself suddenly say.

She smiled at me after picking up two trash bags, "No problem. I'm sure all of this is hard to process and do all on your own. I'm happy to help."

"But that isn't your job description. Helping a client move," I told her.

"You aren't my client. Your great aunt was. Just see it as your first friend helping you out in a time of need," she reassured.

My mind couldn't help but think of reasons on why she was being so friendly to me. I guess it was because I was so used to being alone that I saw kindness as a way for people to get their way. But I didn't speak any of my thoughts out loud. It was probably best to stay quiet and accept the help when it is offered.

Once the stuff was loaded into Kate's car, which really wasn't a car. It was one of those vehicles that were a mix between a car and a jeep. My knowledge with anything four wheels was pretty much nonexistent. But it did have enough room for my four trash bags of stuff and my trunk of art supplies. Before leaving, I went to the landlord's office and dropped off my keys to my apartment with a note. Telling him that he can keep all the money and sell my remaining things because I would no longer be needing it.

After all of that was done, I got back into Kate's car and we drove the hour and a half to my great aunt's house. The drive was mostly peaceful. Kate kept the radio on low and was willing to listen to me speak if I had the urge to. But I was too busy being lost in my head trying to figure out why, out of all the people in my family, it had to be me. Me, the one who inherited everything that the woman owned or earned.

When we got closer to the town, Kate turned off on a road just on the outskirts. My thoughts were no longer distracting as I took in my sights. I was picturing the house to be on a hill, covered in vines, and surrounded by trees all around. I was half right.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Kate turned onto a long driveway that lead to an old brick Victorian mansion house at the end of it. Ivy covered half of the house and it was surrounded by a big lush lawn. The place was fenced in by a stone wall with an opening into the driveway. The house was so much bigger than I expected and I looked at it in awe as I got out of Kate's car.

"Overwhelming, isn't it?" Kate said after she got out of the car. She was looking up at the house as well since she parked right in front of the front door. "The place is fully paid for, so you don't have to worry about paying any mortgage."

I don't think I would even be able to afford the mortgage of this place anyways. It would suck my inheritance right up in a matter of weeks.

Kate then walked around the car and stood next to me. A big smile on her face, "You ready for a tour?"

All I could do was nod my head as a response. This was my great aunt's house and now it was mine. What was I going to do with all of the space? It was far too big for me and it was hard to believe that one old woman had lived in this house until she disappeared.

Kate led the way and I followed. My mouth hanging open as I took things in. There were a few things I noticed right away that would need fixing. The stone steps we were climbing up to the front door had cracks in them. Grass and weeds already starting to grow through them. The planters on each side was just full of weeds, but I could picture that they had beautiful flowers filling them in the past. The front door was massive and creaked as Kate opened it up after unlocking the door.

Once inside, my awe of the place only grew. Right to the left of the entrance was a personal library the doorway into the room was a set of french doors opened towards the room. The shelves were overflowed with books. Books even littered the floor. Near one of the windows was a small desk with an old typewriting sitting on it. It looked like the room was already collecting dust from lack of use.

To my right was an archway that led into a sunken room full of chairs and couches. The walls had maroon wallpaper and the curtains looked like they used to be white at one point. But now they were almost yellow with age. The furniture was all covered in sheets to protect them from the dust, but I doubt it was doing any good.

Judging by the neglect of these two rooms, my great aunt didn't move much around the house in her old age. I'm sure she only used three out of all of the other rooms in this house. The kitchen, a bathroom, and the room where ever she slept. The rest would be covered in dust and sheets leaving me to clean it all up. At least it will give me something to do while I try to adjust to the new house.

Kate continued leading me more into the house and we were greeted by a set of stairs. It was obvious that it lead to the second floor. But the stairs wrapped around an elevator shaft that my great aunt must have used when she could no longer use the stairs. It also made me wonder how safe the elevator really was and if it was possible to have it removed.

"I can give you a list of contractors if you decide you want to make any changes to the house," Kate mentioned as she pointed at the elevator with her head.

I just smiled at her. It was nice to know that someone was thinking the same thing I was. Who knows how long things had been sitting in this house.

"On to the kitchen," Kate directed before she started walking to the right of the stairs.