Because of poverty and their parents' abandonment, Tess was forced to take on the role of mother, father, and elder sister to little Del until the latter grew up into a young woman. As Del experiences first love, Tess realizes that she had missed her youth because of domestic obligations. What Tess did not miss is heartbreak for as her body wore out from much work and self-sacrifice, Del got ready to leave her sister for the man in her life.