When Edward Morris received the layoff email, it felt like time stood still for him.

For many years, Edward had been the cornerstone of the company now called WintersTech, an IT firm he had been involved with since its very beginning. He was hardworking, systematic, and steadfastly loyal. Even though Edward was past retirement age, his vibrant energy and keen intellect made him an indispensable employee—so much so that no one ever suggested he should take a back seat. At least, that’s what he thought.

On a dreary Wednesday morning in January, an email landed in Edward’s inbox. The email’s subject line was: “Important Notice: Corporate Restructuring.” His stomach dropped as he clicked it open and saw the words:

“We’re sorry to share that we will be making significant cuts to our workforce as we implement our new corporate structure…”

As Edward continued reading, he realized he was just one of many employees facing termination. The message was clear: “Unless you hear otherwise, you should view the layoff as permanent.” His heart raced in his chest as he scrolled down, looking for some kind of explanation.

A line caught his attention: the founder, Russell, had just passed ownership of WintersTech to his sole grandson, Grant. Under Grant’s leadership, the company was making significant cuts to expenses, which included letting go of long-time employees deemed “unproductive” or “no longer aligned with the new vision.”

Edward felt utterly crushed by the realization. He had dedicated his entire life to that place, collaborating with Russell from the very beginning, helping to mold the company’s values. The younger crowd appeared to view him as merely an old relic—a placeholder in the room. His vision was on the verge of being blurred by tears. At the age of ninety, still strong and committed, Edward suddenly felt as if he had been discarded like an old piece of equipment.

With a tight grip on his emotions, Edward bit his lip as he logged off his workstation. His colleagues, equally taken aback, quietly gathered their things, the air thick with disbelief. Some cried openly, others muttered curses under their breath, and a few simply stood there in silence, as if stunned by the betrayal.

Edward had never imagined this day would arrive, especially not from Russell’s grandson. Edward had been friends with Russell for years, even lending a hand in shaping WintersTech during its early days. However, the new boss, Grant, seemed to think that Edward was too old to stick around. Edward imagined the self-satisfied smirk on Grant’s face as he let go of the staff, congratulating himself for “modernizing” the company.

With his hands shaking, Edward gathered the few personal belongings from his desk into a worn cardboard box—a couple of family photos, a coffee mug from a company anniversary, and a plaque celebrating his years of service. He couldn’t fathom that this was the conclusion, his eyes stinging with tears.

He walked away silently, his shoulders drooping, making his way back to the little apartment he had called home for so long, all by himself. Long ago, his only son had moved overseas, and it had been several years since Edward’s wife passed away from cancer. When he closed his door, there was no one around to inquire about his day or to offer solace for his heartbreak. He stood in his quiet living room, the layoff notice echoing in his mind: “You are no longer needed here.”

In the weeks that came after, Edward found it hard to adapt. His entire sense of self was intertwined with his job. He had never found retirement appealing—why step away when you still have a passion for your work? Without that routine, he felt adrift. He thought about taking on some small side projects, like gardening, volunteering, or even starting a blog. Yet, nothing seemed to fill the emptiness.

One morning, roughly a month after the layoff, Edward found himself stirring a solitary pot of oatmeal when his phone suddenly rang, displaying an unfamiliar number on the screen. He nearly let it go to voicemail, thinking it was just another telemarketer, but curiosity got the better of him and he decided to pick up.

“Hello?” he asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

A calm voice replied, “Is this Edward Morris I’m speaking to?”

“Hello, who am I speaking with?”

I’m Jack Coleman. I represent the estate of the late Mr. Russell. I’m reaching out to let you know that Mr. Russell has recently passed away. In his final wishes, he made it clear that he wanted you to have full ownership of WintersTech.