I've Got Your Wallet (Part 2) By Cyndi Woods

I've Got Your Wallet (Part 2)

By Cyndi Woods 

You can read part one here: I've Got Your Wallet Part 1 

  “About a year ago, my wife was diagnosed with a rare cancer and her prognosis, well… wasn’t good.” He says while looking down at the ground. He leans his arms so heavily on his knees that surely he will have bruises there. You sit beside him and he regales the story of countless doctor and hospital visits, experimental treatments and medicines, and endless bad news. “But we happened to find a doctor who has successfully treated this type of cancer in California.” He pauses for a moment and takes a shaky breath. “The medicine she needs is, of course, not cheap.” He breathes in defeat. “I have had to take a leave of absence from my work to care for her and that takes away from being able to afford the medicine.”

  His story breaks your heart and yet you keep listening. “I had been selling some things and my co-workers had a surprise fundraiser for her and raised a very large sum of money. Enough for me to fly to California and buy the medicine that would save her life.” His tears return now. “I was in such a hurry to get home after the fundraiser and book my flight that I was careless. I ran into someone and dropped my wallet somehow.” He dropped his head into his hands once again and through his sobs, said “Now she won’t get her lifesaving medicine and… she…” he trails off.

   Now you have the purpose for coming to New York. You place your hand on his shoulder and wait for his response. He doesn’t look up or even appear to notice that you are still there. “I have something for you.” You say hoping he hears you. He turns his head slightly towards you and replies with a weak voice, “Just listening to me is enough, thank you.” “But I think you’ll want this.” You say. He straightens to an upright sitting position and wipes his eyes again. You remove your hand from his shoulder and look down at your bag. He too follows your gaze and looks at your bag. You reach in with one hand and slowly pull out a brown leather wallet. Still holding it, you look at him and say “I’ve been wondering what my purpose was in coming here and why I have been feeling restless back home.” The look of confusion and disbelief mingle on his face. “Now I have my answer.” You tell him with a smile. “I believe this belongs to you.” You tell him handing over the wallet. In utter shock, he leaps to his feet and opens the wallet. “It’s here, it’s all here!” he declares. He looks at you and asks “Do you know how much is in here?” “Yes” you admit. He looks back into the wallet while pacing back and forth in grateful disbelief. “How… why would you look for me in a crowded city knowing that you were not likely to find me, and return this amount of money to someone you don’t even know?” he asked with real curiosity. “I just felt like I had to.” You answer simply. “Do you realize that you just saved my wife’s life?” he exclaimed. “This is… a miracle!” he begins to cry again but this time with a smile on his face. “I’m so happy for you both.” You tell him with sincerity. He looks up at you and says “Please, could I have your information to keep in contact with you and let you know how Amanda, that’s my wife, is doing?” You feel humbled at his request to make you and keep you a part of their circle. You look down at the ground, feeling slightly ashamed at your momentary temptation to keep this man’s fortune. You decide not to mention that particular part of the story. After all, everyone faces those kinds of temptations, but it’s the outcome that matters. You raise your head to face him again to answer with “I’d really like that.” As you return his smile. You exchange Emails and phone numbers and go on your respective journeys. He heads home to book his flight and save his wife while you head to the hotel to await your flight home tomorrow.

   It’s now been three years and you’ve just received another email with a picture of Amanda and her husband on a vacation after being two-and-a-half years cancer free. You smile and return the Email with telling them how happy and grateful you are to have met them and how excited you are to see them in a few weeks for Christmas. You sit back in your chair, being thankful once again that you were in the right place at the right time. You also are thankful for the life you have now that you’ve seen life through another lens. You now make it appoint to do random acts of kindness at least once a week and it has given you a new perspective in life. You now have the meaning you’ve been looking for. You send the email, smile again and close your computer. The next random kindness is waiting for you.