When Jason’s estranged parents appeared, demanding the house he had left behind, Alice found herself in an unexpected struggle. Still grieving, she agreed to consider their claim if they could answer a question that had haunted Jason until his last days.
Life-changing moments often come unexpectedly, and for Jason and Alice, that moment happened at 17. Jason arrived at Alice’s door, eyes red from crying, with just a backpack after being thrown out by his parents without a clear reason. Alice’s mom immediately recognized his need and welcomed him into their family.
Together, they navigated the awkwardness of high school and the pressures of college. Alice chose a career in HR, intrigued by people’s complexities, while Jason excelled with computers, always helping her solve problems.
Then, tragedy struck four years ago: Jason was diagnosed with bone cancer. It felt like fate was balancing their good fortune with a heavy blow. Despite the hardship, Alice worked extra hours to cover the mortgage on the house Jason had bought, while Jason held onto hope that his parents might come back to him. But they never did.
Just a month after Jason’s funeral, his parents knocked on Alice’s door, wanting the house that Jason had made his home. They were the same people who had abandoned him when he needed them most. When Alice opened the door, she was met with Susan, Jason’s mother, who feigned concern with insincere sweetness. She expressed her sorrow over Jason’s death, making Alice uneasy. Charles, his father, wasted no time claiming the house belonged to them because Jason was their son.
Alice was taken aback. She reminded them that Jason had bought the house and that she was the one paying the mortgage. Then the lawyer they had brought with them asserted that, legally, the parents had a rightful claim since there was no will.
Alice couldn’t contain her anger. She challenged them, reminding them that Jason had put the house in her name, knowing this confrontation might happen. If they wanted the house, they would have to buy it from her.
Charles threatened her, stating that they couldn’t afford to pay her. He insisted she transfer the mortgage to them. But Alice stood firm, warning them that before any court battle, they had to answer one question that had haunted Jason: why had they abandoned him?
As their expressions shifted to uncertainty, Alice retrieved a worn envelope from the sideboard. This was Jason’s final letter to them. Susan’s eyes lit with a mix of hope and greed as she took the letter, but the mood quickly soured as she read Jason’s words of forgiveness and sorrow over their relationship.
The room fell silent, heavy with Jason’s message. Susan finally spoke, revealing their disappointment in his words, which didn’t align with their expectations. Alice smiled bitterly, knowing that they had come seeking to reclaim what wasn’t theirs. Instead, they received only Jason’s forgiveness—more than they deserved.
Charles seethed with anger, accusing Alice of pretending to be the only one who cared for Jason. But she reminded them that she had been there for Jason in ways they never were. If they wanted anything from her, they needed to provide honest answers about their betrayal.
The silence stretched as they grappled with the truth of their actions. Susan eventually confessed that they had cut ties because Jason had not lived up to their expectations. Her words, lacking true remorse, revealed their inability to confront their failures. That wasn’t enough for Alice. The lawyer recognized their predicament and suggested they leave. For the first time, Alice saw defeat in the parents’ eyes as they turned to go.
Once they departed, Alice felt a wave of mixed emotions—sorrow and relief washing over her. She had safeguarded Jason’s memory from those who had hurt him. Locking the door behind them was a quiet victory. The house was hers, a testament to their love, and she would cherish Jason’s memory within its walls for as long as she lived.