I’m seventy-four and thought I was just paying to fix my leaking roof. I never expected the workers to find something that would change my life. My name is Evelyn, a widow for almost ten years since my husband Richard passed away. I live alone in our old family house with no children or close relatives. My days are simple—gardening, baking, and helping at the library. But nights feel lonely, made worse by the sound of rain dripping through the roof.
After many nights of listening to the leaks and creaks, I finally saved enough to hire a small crew to fix the roof. The men looked tough, but one of them, a young man named Joseph, was different—he was polite, respectful, and kind.
A few days later, I noticed the workers acting suspicious. They had found something in the attic and tried to hide it. It was an old wooden box that I immediately recognized. Years ago, Richard had shown it to me and said I should only open it “when the time felt right.”
That night, I overheard the crew arguing. Most wanted to keep what was inside, but Joseph refused. The next morning, Joseph came to me with the box and told me the truth. Inside were bundles of cash and gold—savings Richard had secretly put away over the years.
Joseph could have kept the treasure, but instead he chose to be honest. When the rest of the crew came back later that day, they were shocked to find me waiting with the police. Joseph stood by me, while the others walked away with nothing.
In the weeks that followed, Joseph and I became close. Since I had no family, I welcomed him like the grandson I never had. Now he visits often, sometimes bringing his girlfriend for holidays, and my once-quiet home is filled with joy again.
Richard’s hidden box wasn’t just about money—it gave me back the sense of family I thought I had lost forever.