Linda often vented her frustrations on others. But the most affected person was her high school janitor, whose life she ruined in the most unthinkable way. Years later, Linda was hired to care for a wealthy old lady, but she was stunned when she met the woman.<\/p>\n
With nothing more than a backpack and an old phone, Linda, 24, marched across Jacksonville. Her destination was unclear, but she was sure she wouldn\u2019t return home to her parents again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they call you, tell them I\u2019m gone for good,\u201d she informed her best friend Casey before switching off her mobile.<\/p>\n
Growing up, Linda had a good life with her mom and the stepdad that came into her life ten years ago. But she often took it for granted. And when her stepdad turned down her plea for an incredible amount of money, she stole some cash from the house and fled..<\/p>\n
It had been ten months, and Linda still wandered the streets, homeless and poor. One day, she stopped at the supermarket to buy some food. But only after going in did she realize that she didn\u2019t have enough money to buy even a loaf of bread.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am! How may I help you? Do you need a trolley?\u201d the saleswoman asked Linda.<\/p>\n
Tears rolled down Linda\u2019s cheeks as she recalled the nasty things she\u2019d done to Janet.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo thanks! I\u2019ll take care of it myself,\u201d Linda said and walked to the groceries aisle. She looked around several times before slipping four biscuit packets and two juice cans into her sweatshirt. The loaf of bread was too huge to hide, and she thought she would get caught.<\/p>\n
She placed a candy bar at the checkout, saying it was all she needed, but the saleswoman shouted, \u201cSecurity, please take her inside and check her! She\u2019s been shoplifting, and it\u2019s recorded in the CCTV camera!\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda gasped. She was scared, and this would be the worst to happen to her. Just then, a stranger stepped forward and said, \u201cNo, she\u2019s with me! Her bill is on me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda was astonished, and when she turned around, a man stood behind her. \u201cHey! I told you to take the packet of chips, did you not take it?\u201d he dramatically asked Linda, who was baffled.<\/p>\n
The man introduced himself as Wilson outside the store. \u201cOh, I\u2019m so grateful to you\u2026I am actually out of my credit\u2026I am not sure if I can repay you,\u201d Linda said.<\/p>\n
Wilson looked at Linda and smiled. She thought it was evil and several bitter thoughts fogged her mind. But even if she wanted, she couldn\u2019t excuse herself and leave because he paid for all she had shoplifted. After a brief pause, Wilson spoke up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was looking for someone to look after my old mother,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll be out on a long business trip, so I wondered if you could help me. You\u2019ll be paid on an hourly basis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Wilson had caught Linda shoplifting, he realized that she had done it out of desperation. Since he couldn\u2019t find anyone to nurse his mom in the nick of time, he decided to hire her.<\/p>\n
Linda readily nodded. She thought it was an amazing offer to save some money for college. She left with Wilson and soon arrived at a huge estate on the outskirts of town.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow! This place is beautiful,\u201d Linda mumbled. \u201cSo, you and your mom live here, ALONE?\u201d She got her answer in Wilson\u2019s narrow smile.<\/p>\n
He showed her to the staff quarters but insisted she stay in the room next to his mom\u2019s. Linda toured around the house and, moments later, was taken to a deluxe bedroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cMeet my mother, Janet\u2026.\u201d Wilson introduced his mother to Linda, who froze in shock. She looked beyond Janet\u2019s wrinkles and greys and recalled someone familiar.<\/p>\n
Soon, Linda arrived at a huge mansion. | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
\u201cI KNOW YOU! ARE YOU JANET JOHNSON?\u201d Linda exclaimed in shock. But when Janet agreed, Linda remained silent. She didn\u2019t utter a word more or talk about anything else.<\/p>\n
Then she walked into her room and closed the door, traveling back in memory lane. \u201cNo, it can\u2019t be\u2026It can\u2019t be Janet Johnson, my high school janitor\u2026It can\u2019t be,\u201d she sobbed.<\/p>\n
During her schooldays, Linda often vented her frustrations on others for no reason. Her resentment for her stepdad and mom usually came out this way, but innocent people had suffered in the bargain.<\/p>\n
It so happened that Janet was a poor woman who worked as a cleaner in Linda\u2019s school. She was also a punching bag where students like Linda unleashed their emotional baggage by ridiculing her. But what Linda did one fateful day outdid everything.<\/p>\n
At the time, she framed Janet for theft of students\u2019 money and got her fired. Although Linda never regretted it back then, Janet had lost her only breadwinning job.<\/p>\n
Tears rolled down Linda\u2019s cheeks as she recalled the nasty things she\u2019d done to Janet. But she decided not to reveal her identity, fearing she would be fired.<\/p>\n
Day by day, Linda harbored a close bond with Janet. She served her well and was top-notch with her duties. But something about Janet\u2019s sudden wealth baffled her.<\/p>\n
Later, she learned that Janet had married a wealthy businessman and moved there. She had lost her husband to a car crash and took sole custody of the estate with her son from a previous marriage.<\/p>\n
Linda couldn\u2019t believe how time changed her life and Janet\u2019s. Although a part of her told her to walk out of the house, she couldn\u2019t do it because she had nowhere to go.<\/p>\n
With each passing day, she did her best to care for Janet. The old woman reciprocated with kindness and treated her as her daughter. \u201cEven if I had a daughter, I doubt she would\u2019ve cared for me like you,\u201d Janet emotionally told her one evening. At this point, Linda could no longer hold back the truth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know this would not go too well with you\u2026But I want to tell you something about me,\u201d Linda shyly told Janet.<\/p>\n
The old woman stopped sipping her tea and looked at Linda. \u201cAbout you? What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda looked Janet in the eye. \u201cI\u2019m Linda Scott\u2026I\u2019m sorry, but I was the one who framed you for theft in high school\u2026.and\u2026and got you fired.\u201d<\/p>\n
Janet placed the teacup on the table. The saucer rattled, followed by an eerie silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, and I am ashamed of myself\u2026I did it for fun\u2026I\u2019m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, Linda repeated.<\/p>\n
Janet held Linda\u2019s hands and told her that she already knew her identity. \u201cI am impressed by how time has changed you, my dear\u2026Maybe I wouldn\u2019t have led this life if I hadn\u2019t got fired!\u201d Janet chuckled. \u201cThanks to you for that!\u201d<\/p>\n
Linda couldn\u2019t believe her ears. It was too good to be true when Janet told her that she forgave her. The two harbored a lovely bond then onward. Janet offered to pay for Linda\u2019s college and even taught her how to do embroidery.<\/p>\n
Four years had passed since that evening, but even after graduation and finding her dream job, Linda stayed with Janet and helped her. She realized how fate can push anyone into good or bad times and was determined not to look down upon anyone again!<\/p>\n
What can we learn from this story?<\/p>\n
If you want others to treat you well, first learn to treat them well. When Linda realized Janet was her high school janitor whom she had framed for theft, she regretted her mistake. And although she knew her new nurse was the former schoolgirl who got her fired, Janet forgave her and helped her.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t look down upon someone. You may never know how fate may change their lives. During her schooldays, Linda looked down upon Janet, her school janitor. But years later, it was Janet who took Linda under her wing and helped her launch a successful life independently.<\/p>\n
This account is inspired by our reader\u2019s story and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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