A man returns to his hometown after fifteen years to see his mother and finds only the remains of her house — no one knows whether she is still alive.

Jason Warner was determined to become successful and wealthy, but he believed that would never happen in Oberlin, Ohio, a town with only 4,000 residents. So immediately after finishing high school, Jason packed his belongings and left.

His father had passed away when Jason was young, and his mother, Rose, had raised him on her own. He had no siblings to leave behind, and he was confident that Rose would be fine. He thought he needed to focus on his own life.

Things went mostly as Jason had expected. He graduated at the top of his law school class and received a job offer from a well-known firm. In his first week working there, he met the boss’s daughter, and his future seemed secure.

Mary Beth Harrow fell in love with the young lawyer, and she always got what she wanted. Jason was happy. Mary Beth was attractive, wealthy, and her father helped his career progress.

Everything seemed perfect, and it improved when Jason and Mary Beth married and became parents to twins—a boy and a girl. Though he never saw himself as a dad, Jason quickly fell in love with his children.

He couldn’t picture life without Rita and Roy. He spent every free moment with his family. However, while his children enjoyed having him at home so much, Mary Beth was unhappy.

She found that Jason’s new role as a caring father bored her, and she soon filed for divorce and custody. Jason was crushed. He fought hard for his children but lost because his father-in-law was a powerful man.

Feeling empty and hopeless in his hotel room, Jason reflected: “Is this how my mother felt when I left? Is this what I did to her?” He realized that it had been fifteen years since he had contacted his mother, and he had never reached out.

The next morning, Jason booked a flight to Cleveland, rented a car, and drove to Oberlin. He was filled with excitement as he drove along familiar streets, eager to see Rose and tell her about her grandchildren.

But when he reached his childhood home, his heart sank. The pretty house was gone, replaced by only ruins. The roof was missing, torn off, and the belongings inside spilled out.

Jason hurried to the house next door and rang the doorbell. “Please,” he gasped. “Rose Warner, where is she?”

“Rose?” replied the homeowner. “Her house was destroyed in a tornado two years ago… I don’t know if she survived.”

Jason knocked on all the nearby doors but no one knew what had happened to Rose. Frustrated, he headed to the police station to speak with the sheriff.

He then recognized Harry Tarbell, an old friend from school. “Harry!” Jason called out. “I hope you can help. I went to my mom’s house, and it’s completely wrecked. No one knows if she’s alive.”

“Hey Jason,” Harry said, shaking his hand. “How long has it been? Fifteen years?”

“Yeah, about that…” Jason replied anxiously. “It’s about my mom…”

Harry took a seat at a computer and looked through records. “She’s not registered in town anymore. Some of the people who lost their homes moved to Pennsylvania. Maybe your mother was among them.”

Hope surged within Jason. “Thank you, Harry,” he said. That afternoon, he contacted a foundation that helped displaced residents relocate.

Although they didn’t find Rose’s name on their files, the foundation suggested Jason reach out to three assisted living homes that had taken in Ohio refugees. Over the next week, he searched for clues but found no trace of his mother.

Still determined, Jason decided to return to the start and look for new leads. His first stop was the sheriff’s office, but Harry was absent.

The dispatcher told him Harry was at home. Remembering Harry’s old residence, Jason drove there. As he approached, he was about to knock when he heard a familiar voice: it was Rose!

He hammered on the door, shouting, “Open up! You lied to me — you have my mother!”

Harry opened the door, and Jason saw his mother behind him, looking much older and frailer than before. “Mom!” he shouted and pushed past Harry. He embraced her as she sobbed and called his name.

Turning to Harry, Jason accused, “You lied to me! You sent me on a wild goose chase while my mother was right here!”

Harry looked down. “I didn’t think you’d search further. You didn’t care for her all these years…”

“I was wrong, Harry,” Jason admitted.

Harry said bitterly, “I lost my mother as a boy, and you threw yours away because you didn’t realize what family is.”

“I understand that now, Harry. I’ve learned my lesson,” Jason responded.

Rose gently spoke, “For the last fifteen years, Harry has been kind and caring, almost like a son. Two years ago, he took me in. He’s as much my son as you are, and I won’t leave him.”

Jason began crying. “Mom, I’m sorry it took losing my children for me to see what I did! I need family, I need you.”

Harry stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Jason’s shoulder. “You do have a family — your mother. And if you’re willing, I can be your brother and a friend.”

Jason returned to Boston to be near his children, but every month he traveled to Ohio to visit his mother and his brother.