Wealthy businessman Roger Landers was often annoyed by the sight of homeless people outside his office. One day, he noticed a young woman huddled against a wall. When a passerby dropped a coin in her cup, her radiant smile transformed his perception of her. Intrigued, Roger found himself thinking about her all week.

On Friday, he approached her, awkwardly offering to buy her coffee. The girl, Emma, accepted gratefully. Over steaming cups, Emma shared her story: she had been lured to L.A. by a charming boy who vanished with her money on their first night. Ashamed, she ended up on the streets.

Roger was moved. “I’m sending you home,” he declared, taking her shopping for clothes and a suitcase. At the bus station, he tucked a $100 bill into her hand, warning her against trusting charming strangers again. Emma hugged him tightly, tears of gratitude streaming down her face.

That night, Roger realized he had fallen for Emma. He couldn’t let her go. Two days later, he drove to her hometown of Preston, Idaho, and found her at a laundromat. Her face lit up when she saw him; the feeling was mutual.

Just three weeks later, Emma returned to L.A. with Roger, who loved and cherished her. By the end of the year, they were married, and Emma became involved in a program to help runaways find their way home.