I stare at him, not sure I’m breathing.
“There is also a monthly living stipend that will be deposited into an account of your choosing. One where you are the sole account holder. This is for your personal use: groceries, clothing, transportation, emergencies, and anything else you might need to live independently.”
Tyler inhales sharply. “This can’t be real.”
Daniel gives a little smile but continues.
“A separate academic stipend will also be available to cover other educational resources and study support services such as tutoring, counseling, and workshops, should you ever need them. And…”
He pauses just long enough for it to sink in.
“…a vehicle has already been purchased and registered to the trust. It will be transferred into your name once you obtain your driver’s license. Full insurance and maintenance are covered under the trust. You will have access to everything this fund has to offer once you get accepted to any school of your choice.”
My stomach flips. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
“This has to be a joke,” Tyler mutters, eyebrows drawn. “Like a prank show or something. No one just does this.”
Daniel offers a small, patient smile.
“I understand the skepticism. But I assure you — everything is above board. My firm, Clifford & Price, has a longstanding reputation for discretion and legal integrity. You are welcome to retain your own legal counsel to review the documents. In fact, I’d encourage it.”
I stare at the documents, my eyes trailing line after line like I’m reading in a foreign language. The numbers blur. Zeros stretch across the page like hallucinations.
The trust has been funded with an amount I can’t even comprehend. Just the monthly stipend alone makes my eyes twitch; that is a ridiculously high amount for a student to be on a monthly basis.
This isn’t just help. This is something else. This is a life being rewritten.
My fingers tremble as I turn the next page. Housing. Health. Books. An apartment under my name. A car already waiting at a dealership. Insurance. Security. Prepaid utilities.
Everything.
It feels like my chest is caving in. I blink hard, trying to process it. But the harder I try, the more distant it feels — like I’m watching it happen to someone else.
“Why?” I sign, my hands slow and unsteady.“Who would do this?”
But I already know.
I know who keeps rewriting the script of my life behind my back. I know who keeps turning the impossible into reality like it’s nothing.
“I’m afraid I’ve been instructed to keep the identity of the benefactor confidential,” he replies smoothly. “I can only assure you that their intentions appear entirely sincere. There are no conditions, no repayment requirements, and no legal catch. The trust exists solely for your benefit.”
“No repayment?” Tyler echoes, his voice laced with disbelief. “You’re telling us someone just dropped that bomb into my best friend’s life and doesn’t want credit?”
Daniel offers a soft nod. “Correct.”
My head drops slightly, my hair falling over my eyes as I grip the table. I feel like I’m floating outside myself.
“I…”My hands barely move. “I don’t know if I can take this.”
Tyler looks at me, alarmed, then turns to Daniel.
“He’s overwhelmed,” he says, voice tight. “This is… a lot.”
Daniel’s expression remains composed, but not unkind.
“That’s perfectly understandable. You’re under no obligation to accept anything today. The documents are yours to review at your own pace. If you’d like, I can return in a few days to answer any questions — or begin the process to decline the trust, should that be your choice.”
He says it all so gently, like he isn’t standing there holding the keys to a future I crave.
