When I was a young boy, I lost my mother and father. As     1     a person without a father or mother life was difficult for me and I was often lonely. l lived in a home with other children and my bedroom was     2     empty with few toys or things to enjoy.

Although I married eventually and had my own children, I always felt sad thinking about my parents. One day I got a letter in the post. It said it was from my sister! I was     3     shocked to read this and as it had never been     4     told to me that had other family members. The letter said my sister would like to meet me and told me the time and place to go.

On the day I met her, l arrived at her home. It was a beautiful old house with blue walls and white     5     window coverings. As I went up the garden path, the door was flung open by a woman who looked just like my mother! At first I was     6     stuck in one place with shock but she     7     jumped into my arms and we hugged. It was such a special moment that I found myself     8     crying with joy.

My sister said she too was unaware that she had a brother but that she had     9     looked into our family history in the past year and found my name. Knowing that I have a sister gives me so much comfort as I have a connection to the past.