In 2001, the United States was shaken by one of the most horrific acts of terrorism the world has ever seen: 9/11. The absolute destruction of the Twin Towers in New York City (just one of three crash sites) left the downtown area of Manhattan in a cloud of smoke, debris, and panic.

But in all the destruction and the chaos, one woman noticed something unusual in the rubble just a few blocks away from Ground Zero. What she discovered was a wedding photo, showing five friends smiling into a camera at a wedding that had just taken place in Aspen, Colorado. Two of the friends are the bride and groom.

Overwhelmed by this haunting photo found in the wreckage of the attacks, the woman gave the photo to her friend, Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, and asked her to “do something meaningful with it.”

Elizabeth, a college professor, took the photo and decided to dedicate herself to finding the people in this picture. For the next 13 years, Elizabeth searched for any of the friends photographed on this happy occasion, not even knowing if they were dead or alive.

When social media came into the picture, Elizabeth decided to use any and all platforms to broaden her search. So, every year on September 11th, Elizabeth would post a snapshot of the found photo on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites, hoping to find the photographed people and return the picture.

In the last four years alone, the repeated post was retweeted over 35,000 times on Twitter and much more on Facebook. Elizabeth’s mission was shared on multiple websites — needless to say, her story went sufficiently viral.

But, despite all the digital exposure, years passed with no leads at all. Elizabeth always came up empty-handed no matter how tirelessly she worked.

Then, in September 2014, Elizabeth received a message online from someone named Fred Mahe. He said he had seen her post of the photo, and he wanted to come forward as one of the people in the picture: Fred was the man in the photo staring directly at the camera.

Fred said the last time he saw that photo, it was on his desk on the 77th floor of the second World Center tower, 13 years ago.

“Elizabeth has almost single-handled restored our faith in humanity,” Fred told Fox. “Her efforts over the last 13 years have just been amazing.”

Nothing can fully heal what happened to America that solemn day in 2001, but this touching story is a beautiful representation of the hope we all hold for humanity. Despite all the darkness and the misguided people who are fruitlessly determined to tear the world down, there is always that glimmer of light reminding us that goodness still exists.

This incredible story of happiness among destruction and this woman’s dedication to helping five friends potentially heal from that traumatic day is undoubtedly one of those gleams of hope.