Linda and her older sister, Amanda, constantly bickered growing up. Eventually, Amanda left to attend college while Linda was still in high school.

The fighting stopped for a while as the two didn’t share a house anymore. But whenever Amanda came home to visit, the arguing continued. "All I want for you two is to stick together no matter what," their mother, Meredith, would say.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

Everything changed when Meredith fell desperately ill. Since the two girls' father wasn’t in the picture, Meredith had no choice but to ask Amanda for help.

“If worse comes to worst, please don’t abandon Linda. She would have to live in a group home, but once you graduate, please come back for her,” Meredith pleaded with Amanda.

Meredith eventually passed away in her sleep. Linda stayed in a local shelter, awaiting her sister’s graduation.

At the end of the year, Linda received news that Amanda had graduated and attempted to call her. Amanda dropped the call without saying a word to Linda.

As weeks of waiting turned to months, Linda realized that Amanda would never return for her. The sisters never spoke again and grew to hate each other even more.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

After a challenging year, a lovely couple, Tim and Gabby, adopted Linda. She was treated as part of the family and enjoyed the rest of her high school life. Her adoptive parents were there for her college graduation. "No matter what happens, we’re always a phone call away," Gabby told Linda.

Linda became a successful real estate agent in her hometown. She enjoyed helping people find their dream homes, as Tim and Gabby had done for her.

“When I look inside the nursery and see those two baby boys, I remember how I was left at that group home.”

One day, Linda received a call from the local hospital. A nurse informed her that she was Amanda’s emergency contact. "I’m so sorry to tell you this, but your sister has passed away due to complications during childbirth. She gave birth to two sons, and you are their next of kin," the nurse explained.

Linda was left confused and angry. Amanda hadn’t even told her that she was pregnant, let alone that she was an emergency contact. How dare she, Linda thought to herself.

She decides to call Tim and Gabby to seek guidance. They had helped her work through her feelings of abandonment before, and she knew they would have great advice.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

"I know this is hard to accept, but Amanda was your sister, and those two newborn boys haven’t done anything wrong. At least go to the hospital and find some answers," Tim told Linda.

Linda thanked Tim and Gabby for their advice but was still unconvinced. She felt this responsibility was with the father of the children, not her. Linda thought that she would never adopt the boys, especially considering how much Amanda had already put her through.

Linda arrived at the hospital seeking answers and spoke to one of the nurses. The nurse informed Linda that Amanda had left behind a note before she passed away.

"It may be too little too late, but now I understand how many mistakes I made and how much I regret them.

I know that forgiveness is the last thing on your mind right now, but please consider my dying wish.

I am asking you to accept my children. I am begging you.

After all, only after becoming a mother did I understand what emotions our mother was experiencing when she asked me not to leave you.

I feel these emotions now... I’m so sorry," the note read.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

Linda found it difficult to process everything all at once and sat in the hospital wondering if there was more to the story. Where on Earth is their father, she thought to herself.

"No matter what arguments you boys have, you should always stick together, through thick and thin."

She discovered on Amanda’s cellphone that there were hundreds of calls and messages to a man named Derek. As it turned out, Derek had skipped town once he discovered that Amanda was pregnant.

Amanda was left alone with no support for months before she went into labor. This situation reminded Linda of her mother. Meredith had also been abandoned by her husband after Linda was born and needed to play the role of a single mother.

Linda called Tim and Gabby once again to vent. "When I look inside the nursery and see those two baby boys, I remember how I was left at that group home," she explained. "It sounds like you know exactly what to do," Tim replied.

After she chatted with Tim and Gabby, Linda left one more message for the father of Amanda’s children.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Unsplash

"I hope one day you realize your mistake by abandoning my sister and your sons. All I can hope is that one day you seek forgiveness before it’s too late," the text read.

That day, Linda signed on as guardian of her two nephews. She named them Timothy and Gabriel, after her adoptive parents, who had helped her so much. For her, the most important thing she could do to honor her sister and mother was to ensure that the boys always had each other’s backs.

"No matter what arguments you boys have, you should always stick together, through thick and thin," Linda told her nephews. The three lived a happy life together, and Linda felt a special joy in providing a home for the boys.

In remembrance, Linda always took them to place fresh flowers on their mother’s and grandmother’s graves.

Linda had forgiven her sister and always wished they could’ve reconciled while she was still alive. But she always felt comfort looking at Timothy and Gabriel, as they had Amanda’s eyes.

What can we learn from this story?

• Put aside your differences. If Amanda had learned to look past petty disagreements, she could’ve formed a stronger bond with her sister.

• It’s never too late for forgiveness. Even after her sister’s passing, Linda learned to forgive Amanda and accept her children into her life.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a young orphan man who adopts a newborn girl and finds out she’s his biological sister.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to [email protected].