Story10: "The Homeless"
Sarah worked as a part-time cook after college every day in this restaurant. She was surprised when she saw this man sitting on the footpath in front of the restaurant that evening. He was a middle-aged man, around 53, in a worn-out pair of trousers and a shirt.
He was shivering but sitting unconcerned with the surroundings, looking at the sky. Then she shrugged her shoulders, thinking he was probably a homeless guy who had nowhere to go.
She felt for this man and gave him some leftover food after her shift that night. Then she saw him often sitting right in front of the restaurant, at the same spot, and felt pity for him. The man acknowledged her kindness every time she gave him food, and she also felt a sense of satisfaction.
He always said, "How kind of you, young lady."
That night, Sarah's shift was finally over at 10. She took off her apron and threw it in her cupboard. But before leaving for the house, she went into the kitchen to get the leftover food for John, the homeless.
As she stepped out of the door, she felt surprised because John was not there at his usual place. Tonight he was standing by the wall and gestured to Sarah to come close to him.
For a moment, Sarah hesitated a little. John was always happy to see her, accept the food she offered, and chat with her about her restaurant, her boss, and her education. But today, she thought he was behaving differently.
My Side of the Story
John gestured for Sarah to sit with him on the low wall, away from the busy footpath. After a tick of apprehension, she crossed the remaining distance between them and perched next to him, and they both looked up at the starry sky.
“Sarah,” John's voice was steeped in seriousness, laced with an undercurrent of melancholy, “I cannot express how much your kindness means to me. There’s something important I need to tell you tonight.”
Sarah felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as her heart pounded. She leaned in, encouraging John to continue.
“I used to be like you, working hard towards my dreams,” John said, his eyes reflecting memories. “But life took an unexpected turn, and I ended up homeless, fighting for survival. I don’t want pity or sympathy. I want to inspire you to value your opportunities and chase your dreams relentlessly.”
Her brow creased with curiosity as she listened to John's unexpected revelation. What catastrophe had propelled him from a normal life into the crucible of homelessness? Her mind teemed with unasked questions, the chain of events that led him to this moment becoming an unsolved enigma.
John exhaled deeply, a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand lost dreams. “I had it all, Sarah. Success, a loving family... Then, a series of misfortunes destroyed everything. I lost my job, my wife left me, and I fell into despair and hopelessness.”
Sarah felt for John as he shared his past. The pain he must have gone through was unimaginable. Yet she admired his strength and his ability to find happiness in simple things like stargazing.
“But why do you always sit here like a homeless person” Sarah asked him. John’s voice choked with emotion as he replied, “We celebrated our daughter’s first birthday in this restaurant. I have many fond memories associated with this place. Whenever I’m here, it brings me joy.”
“Life is unpredictable and sometimes we end up in situations we never expected,” John continued, his voice full of wisdom. “Remember, even when things seem bad, we still have control over how we react and behave. You have a bright future ahead of you, Sarah. Don’t waste it.”
Sarah nodded, tears in her eyes. John’s words had a profound impact on her. In that moment, she vowed to follow his advice and seize every opportunity that came her way.
The next evening, Sarah went to their usual spot but John wasn’t there. Worried and scared, she searched for him but he was nowhere to be found.
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months but there was still no sign of John. Sarah couldn’t stop wondering about what had happened to her friend. Had he managed to overcome his situation or had something terrible happened to him?
Life went on and so did Sarah. She achieved great success by opening her own restaurant and becoming famous for her cooking skills. But despite her accomplishments, she still felt a sense of emptiness due to John’s absence.
Years later, Sarah received a letter at her restaurant with no return address. She opened it with shaking hands and found that it was from John thanking her and expressing hope. He wrote that he had managed to rebuild his life and credited their friendship for inspiring him.
Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she realized that John had finally overcome his struggles. He had triumphed over his hardships and had deeply touched the life of a young woman who had once shown him kindness.
Interesting. Thanks by your invitation.
A great continuation of my story. I loved the ending of your story which brings hope in life. Thanks for you participating and I wish you the best!
Thank you for your kind words. 😊
"Life is unpredictable and sometimes we end up in situations we never expected,"
This is life for all of us, even for the rich and the homeless.
Thank you for ending with a great story and a lesson in life.
PS: Your invitation is very tempting. I might just give it a try.
I'm glad you enjoyed the story and found a lesson in it. Plus, if my invitation really piqued your curiosity, I say go for it! 😉