Jacob had been a dedicated volunteer at the Mesa orphanage for years, inspired by his own adoption. One day, while discussing a new arrival with an employee named Kara, a little girl named Mia unexpectedly ran up to him, beaming, “Dad! Did you come for me?”

Taken aback, Jacob felt a rush of confusion. “No, Mia. I’m not your father,” he stammered. But she grabbed his hand, leading him to show off her drawings of their imagined life together.

Mia explained, “Mommy said my father would find me soon.” Jacob’s heart sank as he realized the truth: Mia’s mother had passed away, and there was no record of her father. Overwhelmed, Jacob stepped away, tears filling his eyes.

Kara confirmed the heartbreaking details, and Jacob impulsively decided, “I’m taking Mia home.” He didn’t hesitate; he felt an unbreakable connection to her.

That evening, when Jacob shared his decision with his girlfriend, Miriam, she erupted in anger. “It’s the child or me! CHOOSE!” she screamed. Jacob crossed his arms, feeling liberated. “I choose her. Get out of my house.”

With Miriam gone, Jacob felt a weight lift. A week later, Mia moved in, and they began to forge a family bond. As he showed her the newly decorated room, Jacob realized you’re never truly ready to be a father until fate steps in. He continued volunteering, helping other children, and eventually found love with Kara, marrying as Mia entered her teens.