Olivia leaned back in her chair, exhausted. Her head was pounding, and her back ached so much that she couldn’t tell which discomfort was worse. A soft knock came at her office door.
— Ms. Olsen, may I come in?
Olivia looked up, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
— Emma? Why are you still here?
The young woman gave a sheepish smile.
— I couldn’t just leave you here alone. What if you needed some coffee?
Olivia smiled back.
— That’s thoughtful of you. But you didn’t need to stay late. You should head home and get some rest.
Emma sighed.
— There’s no one waiting for me at home. It’s better here at work.
Olivia had met Emma by chance, under circumstances that might have made anyone else walk on by. That evening, Olivia’s car had broken down on the outskirts of the city. Her phone was dead, a snowstorm was raging, and the nearest gas station or store was at least a mile away. Olivia had stepped out of her car to try to hail a taxi when she noticed a lone figure trudging along the shoulder of the road.
Emma was walking as if on autopilot, oblivious to everything around her. Olivia couldn’t ignore her. She called out, but Emma didn’t respond. Olivia hurried over, grabbed her by the hand, and practically pulled her into the car. At least it was warm inside.
— What’s going on? Are you okay?
Instead of answering, Emma burst into tears. Between sobs, she explained that her boyfriend had kicked her out after tricking her into signing over her apartment to him. Penniless and emotionally shattered, she had simply started walking, with no idea where to go.
— How could you trust someone like that? — Olivia sighed, though she already knew she couldn’t leave the girl without help. Suddenly, the car started, and Olivia drove Emma to her home. There, they were greeted by Olivia’s father, Andrew, who, seeing their frozen guest, quickly set the table and made her a warm meal.
That’s how Emma came to stay with Olivia. Before long, Olivia helped her regain her apartment, secure compensation through the courts, and even offered her a job as a secretary. Emma quickly adapted to her new role and became not just a dependable employee but also a source of support for Olivia.
A few months later, as the New Year approached, Olivia asked Emma to help find a caregiver for her father. Among the candidates, Olivia noticed a woman fidgeting with a handmade bracelet and suddenly recalled seeing it before—in an old photo Emma kept.
When Emma returned home that evening, she recognized the woman as her older sister, Danielle, whom she had longed to find but had been too afraid to search for. Tears, memories, and the joy of a reunion filled the house with warmth. Andrew, seeing the happiness radiating from the two young women, seemed to regain his youthful energy, enthusiastically helping to prepare dinner.
As Olivia watched them, she felt a genuine sense of joy for the first time in years. Everything was finally falling into place. Life was returning smiles to those who truly deserved them.
