Ellen hurried to the train station. Today, her close friend Mary was coming to visit. Upon arriving, she realized she’d rushed for nothing. The train was delayed by nearly three hours.
Realizing it made no sense to head back home—traffic would take longer, and she’d likely be late—she began aimlessly wandering the station. She never liked noisy places, especially train stations. The constant rush of people, beggars, the homeless, thieves…
She couldn’t understand why they all flocked to markets and stations, the most crowded places. Spotting a young, dirty-looking man, she grimaced in disgust, wondering how someone so young could let themselves fall into such a pitiful state.
Little did she know then that this young man would play a significant role in her life. After walking about a hundred yards, Ellen, for some reason, turned around and headed back. He wasn’t begging anyone. He just sat on the concrete floor with a vacant stare, indifferent to everything around him.
— Are you hungry? — the young woman asked.
— Want me to buy you a sandwich?
— Yes. And some water, if possible, — he replied quietly, without lifting his head.
Ellen quickly dashed to a nearby kiosk, bought a few hot sandwiches, and a large bottle of water.
— Here. Eat…
The homeless man eagerly tore into the food. It seemed as if he was swallowing pieces whole, washing them down with greedy gulps of water.
— Thank you! — he said, blushing. He must have realized how pitiful he looked, having lost all semblance of human dignity.
— What are you doing here? Where’s your home? You’re, what, about 20 years old? Why are you sitting at a train station in this state?
The young man let out a heavy sigh and told her about his troubles. He had recently arrived in the big city. Before that, he’d had a major falling out with his parents, who constantly meddled in his personal life and berated him over every little thing. After yet another argument, Daniel got truly fed up.
He insulted his father and decided to move to the capital to start a new life. He wanted to stand on his own two feet without his father’s help. Being young and naive, he didn’t realize the big city could hold serious dangers. Daniel rented a small room from an elderly woman and began looking for work.
By the end of the first day, he realized no one was waiting for him here without a degree or experience. In desperation, he searched for any job he could find. That same evening, he met a young woman. Having no friends or family in the city, he opened up to her, sharing his struggles. He even admitted he had some money, but it would only last a couple of months.
The stranger seemed sympathetic and invited him to her place for tea. Naturally, he agreed, thrilled at the thought of making a friend so quickly in an unfamiliar city.
The next thing he knew, he woke up in a ditch near the station square. Daniel had been badly beaten, and, of course, his money and documents were gone. His head throbbed, but he managed to drag himself back to the apartment he’d rented just the day before. The landlady, seeing him dirty and battered, refused to let him in. She threw his bag of belongings into the hallway and ordered him to leave before she called the police.
Out on the street, Daniel trudged to the police station, hoping for help from law enforcement. But they laughed at him, telling him to clean himself up before coming back. And so, he ended up at the train station…
He wanted nothing more than to apologize and return home, but in his current state, it felt like an impossible dream.
— I’ll buy you a ticket! — Ellen assured him.
— Go home and listen to the advice of wise people, like your parents. It’s only out in the provinces that people think moving to the capital will make everything fall into place. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. The big city is harsh and unforgiving. Everyone’s out for themselves here.
— They won’t let me on the train without documents, and looking like this… — he said in despair.
Ellen looked at him and realized he was right. At that moment, an announcement declared that the train she was waiting for was now delayed by five hours.
— Get up, you’re coming with me! — Ellen said decisively.
She couldn’t fathom how a young man could be wasting away in plain sight of thousands of people, and no one cared.
Hailing a taxi, Ellen took Daniel to her home. Being a bit older than him, she treated him like a younger brother, who was currently away serving in the military.
She imagined what it would be like if her brother Anthony ever found himself in such a situation with no one to help.
The door was opened by Ellen’s mother, Susan. Seeing her daughter with a disheveled young man, the woman was bewildered.
— Mom, Daniel needs to clean up. Please, no questions for now, — Ellen said.
Within half an hour, they managed to make Daniel look more presentable. Ellen gave him some of her brother’s clothes, wrapping his old ones in a bag to throw out.
Susan served him a bowl of hot soup, fussing over how poor and unfortunate he was. Back at the station, Ellen bought Daniel a train ticket and went to negotiate with the conductor about his lack of documents.
The young conductor was uncooperative until Ellen slipped her a crisp new bill.
— Well, that’s it, Daniel, — Ellen smiled by the train car.
— Go home, and don’t make foolish mistakes again.
— Thank you, Ellen… — Daniel tried to say something, but a lump rose in his throat, and tears glistened in his eyes.
— It’s okay! — Ellen patted him on the shoulder. — Safe travels!
Eight years passed. Ellen sat on a bench outside the city hospital, grieving over her difficult fate. She couldn’t understand what she’d done to anger destiny, why it kept sending her one trial after another.
Recently, her husband had betrayed her, running off with a young neighbor without any explanation. Before she could recover from that blow, another struck.
Her mother, Susan, had been diagnosed with a serious illness that could only be treated abroad. Naturally, the treatment required an astronomical sum, money her family could never hope to gather.
— Why are you crying, miss? It’s such a beautiful day, spring has finally arrived, — Ellen heard a man’s voice and looked up.
— Ellen? — the stranger whispered softly.
— Do we know each other? — she asked indifferently.
— It’s me, Daniel! — he said, delighted. — Remember, the train station… the train…
— Danny?! — Ellen lit up at the unexpected reunion. — You’ve grown so much, a real man now. But your eyes are the same, still so kind and naive.
— Ellen, why were you crying? Are you sick? — Daniel asked.
— No. It’s my mom, she’s very ill, and my brother and I are powerless to help, — she said, tearing up again.
Daniel sat down beside her and asked her to explain everything in detail. Ellen shared the problem, relieved to finally confide in someone.
— Money’s not an issue. I have enough to cover it, — he said seriously. — What matters now is finding a good clinic. I remember Susan well, and I feel it’s my duty to help her. I’ll never forget the taste of her delicious soup, — he added with a sad smile.
— Where did you get that kind of money? — Ellen asked, astonished.
— I took your advice. I started listening to my dad. And look at the result—I’m a successful businessman now, — he explained. — All thanks to you…
Four months later, Ellen and Daniel were at the airport to meet Susan. She had successfully completed her treatment and was returning home.
— Ellen, darling! Hello, sweetheart! — the woman rushed to hug her daughter. — Who’s this with you? His face looks familiar, but I can’t place it, — she said, noticing Daniel.
— Mom, this is that homeless guy, Daniel, — Ellen laughed. — He paid for your treatment.
— Thank you, son, — Susan said, tearing up. — I’m forever in your debt…
— Come on, Susan. We’re family, — Daniel smiled. Susan looked at Ellen, puzzled by his words.
— Yes, Mom, we were waiting for you to come back to share the news of our engagement, — Ellen said with a smile.
— Well, isn’t that something… That’s fate for you! — Susan rejoiced. — I’m so happy for you both. You’re a beautiful couple, truly made for each other…
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