I sat up in the hospital bed, my ribs aching with every breath, and stared at the walnut shell in my trembling hand.
Inside—wedged neatly where the meat should’ve been—was a tiny, folded piece of paper.
My husband leaned closer. “What is it?”I carefully pulled it out. My fingers shook so badly I almost tore it. The paper smelled faintly of lavender, the same scent that clung to Grandma’s sweaters.
In her soft, careful handwriting were the words:For my sweetheart Rachel.
These walnuts are for your heart, just like when you were little. But inside, there’s something even better. A piece of my heart for yours. I saved every penny I could for you. Use it when you need it most. Always, Grandma.
I fumbled for another walnut and cracked it open. Another note—and a tiny, rolled-up check. My eyes widened. Ten thousand dollars.I gasped. “Oh my God…”
Walnut after walnut, each one held a check, carefully wrapped in protective paper. Some were for hundreds, others for thousands. All told, it was nearly fifty thousand dollars.“She… she was saving this… for me,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. Memories flooded back—Grandma handing me cracked walnuts every night so I wouldn’t hurt my tiny hands, telling me they’d make my heart stronger. All the times she skipped buying new shoes, mended old dresses, smiled when I bragged about things she could never afford.
And I—
I threw her out of my wedding.A sound escaped me, something between a sob and a scream. “What have I done?”
My husband squeezed my shoulder. “Rachel… she still loved you. Even after everything.”I clutched the bag of walnuts to my chest, the rough cloth scratching my skin. For the first time in years, I didn’t care about designer clothes or luxury weddings. All I wanted was one more night in that creaky lavender-scented house, sitting with Grandma as she cracked walnuts and told me I’d always be her sweetheart.
But it was too late.All I could do was whisper into the empty room,
“I love you, Grandma. Thank you for loving me when I didn’t deserve it.”
The bag of walnuts rested on my lap, heavier than any treasure I’d ever owned—because it carried the weight of a heart I can never repay.