Olive had spent years working hard, raising her son, Chris, as a single mother. Money had always been tight, but when Chris left for college in New York, Olive finally secured a well-paying job. She promised to support him through his studies, providing everything he needed. Chris appreciated her efforts, but as time passed, their communication was reduced to video calls, and they hadn’t seen each other in person for seven years.
During this time, Chris met his fiancée, Rosalie, and they eventually got engaged when Rosalie became pregnant. Olive had never met Rosalie in person due to her busy work schedule and Rosalie’s pregnancy. Despite this, Olive continued to financially support Chris, helping him with his education and other expenses, including a down payment on a house after Chris asked for assistance.
Although Olive worked long hours and lived frugally to help her son, she missed spending time with him and her granddaughter, Mallory. She longed for visits but never complained, always sending gifts and staying connected through video chats. Chris often mentioned how much Mallory loved the gifts Olive sent, but year after year, they never made the trip to visit her.
Unbeknownst to Olive, Chris finally decided to surprise her with a visit. He took a taxi to the house he had grown up in, but when he arrived, something felt wrong. The house looked abandoned, with no furniture, overgrown plants, and no signs of life. Confused, he knocked on the door but received no response. Looking through the window, he saw that the house was empty.
Mrs. Torres, an elderly neighbor who had known Olive and Chris for years, spotted him and explained that Olive had sold the house two years earlier. Chris was shocked—his mother had never told him. Mrs. Torres gave him Olive’s new address, and Chris headed to a less desirable part of town.
When Olive answered the door, she was surprised to see her son. Chris demanded to know why she had sold the house. Olive explained that when he asked for money to buy his house and later to start his business, she had given him everything she had saved. To help with his business, she had even sold her house and moved into a small apartment with a roommate.
Chris was devastated, realizing how much his mother had sacrificed for him without saying a word. He apologized profusely, feeling guilty for not checking on her and for taking her money without knowing the true cost to her. Olive reassured him that she had wanted to help, but Chris was determined to make things right.
That night, Chris called Rosalie and explained the situation. Together, they decided to move Olive closer to them. They built an in-law suite for her so she could be near her granddaughter and live comfortably. Chris also began repaying every cent his mother had given him, and his business success allowed them to live a better life. From that point forward, Chris made sure that Olive never had to sacrifice for him again.