Poor Mom Buys Old Used Car and Finds a Heartbreaking Letter under the Seat — Story of the Day

A poor mother purchased a used car and discovered a heartbreaking letter beneath the front seat. Little did she know that letter would change her whole life.

Derek and Sophie had seen many ups and downs in their lives. The couple was orphaned when they were young, and after they married and started a family, Derek’s business failed, leaving them in debt.

As time went on, Derek found a part-time job and managed to pay off all of the family’s debts, but the family’s financial situation remained precarious. By this time, Sophie was pregnant again, and they were expecting their third child.

When Derek and Sophie’s daughter was born, they understood that they would need a car. Before, Sophie would walk her kids to school, and Derek would take a bus to his workplace, but with a newborn, Sophie couldn’t manage everything alone.

The school and Derek’s workplace were in completely opposite directions, so Sophie had to drop the kids at the school every day. However, they couldn’t afford a new car due to a lack of funds and had to settle for a used one after a year of saving.

The car wasn’t exactly as Sophie had imagined it would be, but she was content that her twin daughters, Mia and Stacey, would no longer have to walk to their schools far away from home every day.

The day the car came, everyone was ecstatic. It was an old blue model, similar to the ones seen in movies, except this one was covered in dust and had worn leather seats with holes in them. But despite its flaws, it was a car that could help them deal with their daily problems.

Soon, Sophie was cleaning the car, ensuring it was dust-free before they started using it. But as she lifted the front seat, she discovered an envelope hidden beneath it. Out of curiosity, she paused cleaning and began reading it.

“Hi! Thanks for buying this car. I know you might find it stupid, but please call it Julia,” the letter began. “It was tough for me to sell it, but it brings back memories of both happy and sad times in my life.”

“I was a single mother. I had three kids, and we used to travel together with Julia. We were content with our lives until one fateful day when everything came crashing down.” Sophie’s heart skipped a beat as she read further. “My children and I were driving home from school when we met with a terrible accident. The day before, I had worked until late at night and dozed off while driving.

“I repaired Julia as a memento of my children and the happy times we shared. When my husband bought the car, they were overjoyed; in fact, my youngest daughter Emma had given it the name Julia. However, over time, I realized that it would be better to sell it because I couldn’t stop crying and cursing myself every time I looked at it.

“Please be careful while driving. That’s a reminder for you. I know you’re thinking about selling this car now that you know its backstory. But trust me, Julia isn’t that bad. I have looked after her for 30 years, and now it’s your turn. I may not be alive when you read this letter, but please take good care of Julia and hand it over to a friendly owner. Love, Marla Arnolds.”

Sophie’s eyes welled up as she finished reading the letter. She could imagine the anguish Marla must have felt as a mother, as she too had lost her first child while it was still in the womb.

She decided to help the lady if she was still alive and sought Derek’s assistance. “Don’t you think we should help her, Derek? I mean, she must be old and lonely. I feel terrible for her.”

“I understand, Sophie, but we have three kids to take care of. I’m always preoccupied with work, and you’re responsible for the entire household. Plus, think about the expenses.”

“We can look after her, Derek. I know we’re short on money, but I can’t take her out of my mind. She’s a poor mother who has lost her children.” Sophie’s eyes teared up. “She must have gone through what we went through when we lost our baby girl. And that’s a terrible feeling.”

Derek hugged Sophie. “Fine, honey. If you want to do it, let’s give it a try. Let’s inform the cops about it tomorrow, okay?”

“Alright! But I hope the lady is safe and alive.”

Derek followed Sophie’s advice and asked for the help of the police to locate Mrs. Arnolds, but they didn’t hear back from the cops for almost a week. Sophie had given up hope that they would locate her, but one day she received a call from the police station informing her that they had finally found her.

“Please note down the address, ma’am,” the cop on the line said. “However, we need to ask some questions because when we told her about you, she said she didn’t know you.”

“I’ll tell you everything, officer. But is the lady safe? Nothing happened to her, right?” Sophie asked.

“She’s fine, ma’am. Don’t worry about that. Just come as soon as you can.”

“Okay, I’m just leaving my home. Make sure she’s not alone,” Sophie said as she hung up the call.

Sophie dashed over to the address and found herself in front of a huge villa. When she walked in, she discovered two cops and an older woman in the living room. Sophie quickly approached the elderly lady and asked, “Mrs. Arnolds? Are you okay?”

Marla gave Sophie a puzzled look. “Yes, I am. But how do you know me, dear, and why were you looking for me?” Sophie took a seat and explained the whole story to Marla and the officers.

“You have a kind heart, ma’am,” one of the officers said as Sophie finished. “No one ever goes out of their way to help someone like that. Anyway, take care; we’re leaving right now.”

After the cops left, Marla told her whole story to Sophie and why she’d left a note in the car. It turned out her husband was a wealthy businessman. One day she received a call that her husband had died in a tragic accident on his way to the airport.

After losing him, Marla sold her house and moved back to her parents’ house with her children and her car, which her husband had given her on their last wedding anniversary. Sadly, soon after, her parents left for their heavenly adobe, and she was left alone.

Marla claimed she wasn’t short on cash because both her husband and parents had left enough inheritance for her and her children to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. However, after the death of her husband and parents, she needed something to occupy her time, and the job helped her until it became the reason for her distress again as her kids died.

Sophie felt so bad for the old lady that her heart sank. From that day on, she visited Mrs. Arnolds daily after leaving her kids to school and on weekends with her family. Sophie would prepare a delicious meal for everyone, and they would have a wonderful time together. But one day, Mrs. Arnolds passed away unexpectedly.

Sophie later learned she had been diagnosed with cancer, which is why she said in the letter that she might be dead by the time she found it. However, Mrs. Arnolds had left a will behind with her lawyer, transferring all of her property and wealth to Sophie’s name as a token of her gratitude.

What can we learn from this story?

• Kindness begets kindness. Sophie helped Mrs. Arnolds without expecting anything in return, and in the end, she received Mrs. Arnolds’ inheritance.
• Be generous and helpful to others. Just like Sophie was to Mrs. Arnolds.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a homeless woman who found $1 million in a trash can.

This account is inspired by our reader’s story 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 info@amomama.com