When Thelma Harris was just one year old, her father, Thomas, left her and her mother, Erin, to fend for themselves. Erin, a vibrant and cheerful woman, was devastated by Thomas’s departure but fought valiantly to provide for Thelma. Working as a stewardess on international flights, Erin found herself frequently away from home, unable to care for Thelma full-time. This led Erin to place her daughter in a local orphanage near their home in Atlanta, Georgia, run by the town’s church.

Erin herself had grown up in an orphanage run by a Catholic church in Atlanta, so placing Thelma in a similar environment was familiar to her. Despite the separation, Erin made sure to bring Thelma home during her yearly vacations, cherishing the time they spent together. The other children in the orphanage envied Thelma, who at least had a loving mother, even if they only saw each other a few times a year.

However, the infrequent visits did little to ease Thelma’s loneliness. She felt isolated from the other children who, fueled by jealousy, avoided her. To cope, Thelma took solace in painting, a hobby that became a passion. At 16, she chose to pursue the Arts in college, despite Erin’s insistence that she should study medicine for a more secure future. This disagreement led to a bitter argument and a deep rift between mother and daughter.

“I like to paint, Mom, and you can’t make me take medicine!” Thelma declared with conviction.

“No way, Thelma,” Erin responded firmly. “Not the Arts. That stream has no future, and you’ll struggle!”

Their argument culminated in Thelma leaving home, moving to Savannah to prove her point. She took a year off to prepare for scholarship exams and eventually enrolled in a Fine Arts program at university. During this time, she continued volunteering at orphanages, sharing her love for painting with children.

Sixteen years later, Thelma, now a successful CEO of a design firm, felt a growing urge to reconnect with her mother. Despite their estrangement, she decided to return to Atlanta to make amends. However, a series of setbacks, including a broken-down cab, seemed to thwart her efforts. Just when she was about to give up, a kind stranger named Curtis offered her a ride.

As they drove to Atlanta, Curtis shared his life story, and Thelma felt a pang of envy for his close family connections. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Thelma went to the orphanage, where Sister Julie, a familiar face from her childhood, greeted her. Thelma was eager to surprise her mother, but Sister Julie’s expression quickly turned serious.

Sister Julie explained that Erin had remarried and had another daughter, Cindy. Tragically, Erin’s second marriage also ended in abandonment, and Erin died in a plane crash. Cindy, now six, had been living in the orphanage after Erin’s death. Seeing Cindy was a shock for Thelma; the little girl was her carbon copy.

The revelation was heartbreaking. Thelma was overcome with regret for not reconciling with her mother. Tears flowed as she realized the pain her mother had endured alone. Sister Julie comforted her, urging Thelma to be grateful for the chance to care for Cindy.

Determined to right her past wrongs, Thelma applied for Cindy’s guardianship. The process took a month, and when it was finalized, Thelma welcomed Cindy into her home. The little girl was thrilled to discover she had an older sister.

Nine years later, Cindy is 15 and preparing for high school graduation. Thelma shared her story with Cindy, who, despite being saddened by the past, felt motivated to pursue a career in medicine to honor their late mother’s wishes.

Thelma’s life has flourished since then. She expanded her business across several states and married Curtis, the kind stranger who helped her reconnect with her past. Their relationship grew from friendship to love, culminating in marriage.