Rich Lady Wakes Up in Lux Hotel Room Hearing a Toddler's Cry from the Closet – Story of the Day

Amanda was a successful and wealthy executive who believed she could somehow heal the world through her work. However, after encountering an abandoned little girl, she learns she and the world have so much more to offer.

Amanda was a wealthy big-shot executive for a large corporation. She was 54 years old and had no husband or children. She had dedicated most of her life to her career, believing she could be most helpful to the world if she had greater influence.

Amanda was a stern, resolute, no-nonsense type of person. Being a woman thriving in an industry where men predominantly prospered required her to be firm. However, at heart, she was a kind-hearted person and always made it a priority to keep the balance.

Amanda was passing by her hometown on the way to a large upcoming business summit. She loved the lifestyle her hard work offered her and was by no means afraid to indulge now and again. She had never worked for the money, but she had always understood that in achieving her goals, it would come with the territory.

Amanda booked herself into a premium hotel, booking one of the most expensive rooms. She had been traveling for almost a week and was utterly exhausted, so she went straight to bed only a few minutes after settling in her room.

As she was asleep, a hollow thump suddenly sounded in her room, pulling Amanda out of a deep sleep with a squeal. She jumped up, trembling as she looked around the room, surveying it for movement. There was none. It was silent.

"Hi. Can I come out now?"

Amanda convinced herself she was merely having a bad dream and went back to bed. A few moments later, she heard a brief rustling and shifting in the darkness. She immediately switched on the bedside lamp.

"Hello?" she called, shaking in fear.

She looked around, and once again, she was met with silence. She told herself the noise must've come from outside or the room above. Just as she switched off the bedside lamp, a knock sounded from the closet.

She immediately switched on the bedside lamp and grabbed the hotel phone, about to call the front desk. As the dial tone started on the phone, she heard a faint, soft voice from the closet.

"Hi. Can I come out now?" the voice said. Amanda froze.

"Greetings, ma'am. How may I be of help?" the lady at the front desk asked over the phone. Amanda said nothing, her gaze locked on the closet in front of her.

"Ma'am?" the lady at the front desk continued, concerned at Amanda's silence. Amanda cut the call and slowly got up.

She reached for the lamp, disconnected it from the socket, and slowly approached the closet. As she reached the closet, her hand inches from its handle, she raised the lamp, ready to strike. She counted to herself, "Three... Two... One."

She flung the door open and stopped mid-swing as she saw what was before her. She instantly dropped the lamp and looked around the room, then back into the closet in confusion.

Before her, in the corner of the palatial closet, sat a little girl looking up at Amanda, equally puzzled as she was. The girl was only about 5 to 6 years old. Noting there was no threat, Amanda calmed herself and reached out her hand to the girl, who grabbed it tightly.

"Hi there," Amanda said warmly.

"Hi," the girl responded softly.

"What are you doing in the closet?" Amanda asked calmly, trying to keep her cool for the little girl's sake.

"My mommy said we were playing hide and seek against her friend, and she told me to stay here until she came back. She took so long, and I thought you were her, but then I got scared," the girl explained.

"Oh, wow. That's quite the story. What's your name?" Amanda asked, ushering the girl to sit with her on the bed.

"Celeste," the little girl replied.

"Nice to meet you, Celeste. I'm Amanda. Are you hungry?" Amanda asked. Celeste simply nodded.

Amanda ordered some room service for her, and they both ate. She then went with the little girl to reception, and the receptionist identified her as one of the cleaner's daughters. They tried to call Celeste's mother, but the calls weren't going through. They concluded that she had abandoned Celeste.

Amanda took an exhausted Celeste to her hotel room and tucked her in. She was asleep within minutes. Celeste then called one of her childhood friends, June. June was the Chief of the police force in the town. If anyone could help Amanda find Celeste's mother, it was June.

"Hey, Amanda! It's been a while," June said in excitement.

"I know, friend. I only wish I was calling under better circumstances. I'm with a little girl, and I believe her mother might've abandoned her. I know this might be a lot to ask, but I need you to track her down," Amanda explained.

"Track her down?" June asked hesitantly.

"Yes, just like you tracked me down through my phone number that time. I know it's a lot, but I really need your help on this one. I need to talk to her. She's only six years old. Please, June," Amanda pleaded.

"Alright. Let me see what I can do," June concluded.

June was able to track Celeste's mother's phone location at a nearby train station. Amanda rushed to the train station, and as she entered, she immediately spotted a woman in tears.

"I made the biggest mistake of my life today. I gave my life up... I gave her up."

She remembered the hotel receptionist's description of Celeste's mother and figured the woman was her. She approached the woman, omitting the information she already knew about the situation. The woman cried as she looked at a picture.

"Hi. I'm sorry to disturb you, but are you okay?" Amanda asked sincerely.

"Uhm... Honestly, no, I'm not. I wish I could hide it, but here I am. At the station in tears, for everyone to see," Celeste's mother confessed.

"What's your name?" Amanda asked, taking a seat next to her.

"Cynthia. Yours?" Cynthia said.

"I'm Amanda. What's wrong? If you don't mind me asking?" Amanda asked.

"No, ask away. It's actually a breath of fresh air. Who can you be completely honest with if not a stranger, right?" Cynthia said with a stoic chuckle. "I made the biggest mistake of my life today. I gave my life up... I gave her up," Cynthia said, showing Amanda, the picture in her hand. It was a photo of Celeste.

"She's so beautiful. What made you do that?" Amanda asked.

"Do you really have the time?" Cynthia asked with a sarcastic chuckle, her tears pouring down more fiercely.

"No. But I'm open to making some if you're open to speaking," Amanda responded warmly.

Amanda and Cynthia spoke for a whole three hours as Cynthia spilled her heart out to Amanda. Cynthia explained how she dearly loved her daughter but didn't have the means to support her.

Cynthia explained that her parents had passed away and left her with a lot of debt around the time she was pregnant with Celeste. After conceiving Celeste, her boyfriend left her to care for their child independently. To make matters worse, Cynthia struggled with health problems that needed money, and she could not handle it all.

Amanda realized that Cynthia had not abandoned her daughter out of a lack of love or selfishness. Cynthia had made many dumb mistakes in her youth, but she genuinely wanted the best for her daughter. And even amidst her mistakes, she had been dealt a bad hand.

Amanda finally explained that she had Cynthia's daughter with her and was willing to help them. Cynthia cried even harder at this revelation. Amanda chimed in, trying to comfort her:

"I would have never let a mother who had abandoned that child go near her again. But from the truth we've shared, I know you're just a good person in a tough situation. And trust me, I've been there. So, I'll help you," Amanda concluded.

And so, since that day, Amanda made Cynthia her assistant and helped her pay off her debts and loans. Ultimately, she became a mother to Cynthia and grandmother to Celeste.

What can we learn from this story?

• Your circumstances do not define you. Cynthia had made many mistakes, and her circumstances were difficult, but her heart was true. Amanda was also a stern businesswoman, but her heart was still kind and open to others. Both of them were able to help each other; Cynthia was able to get back on her feet, and Amanda was able to get a family.
• The road righteousness is not linear. Amanda had always defined herself and her contribution to humanity through her work, but in a single act of kindness, she realized just how broad her value and heart actually is.

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 mom who wants to know why seven nannies quit on her child, then discovers the truth after planting a recorder in the child's room.

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 info@amomama.com.