David dried his tears. He needed that money for his mom’s funeral, so he had to be brave. Once he cleared his eyes, David saw someone strange. A man was looking at him from the other side of the street. His stare was unnerving.

It was clear that the man was homeless. His clothes were tattered, his face unshaven, and his hair a wild mess. The scariest thought crossed David’s mind. *What if he wants to steal my money? No! My mom needs it!*

David raised his head: this man crossed the street and walked directly toward him.
The boy’s blood went cold, but he had to think fast. He clutched the envelope with the money tightly and stood up. As soon as the man was a few feet away, David bolted, racing out of there as fast as his legs could carry him.
He could hear the heavy footsteps of the man running after him, and the man yelled, “Wait, boy, I want to talk to you!”

“No! Go away! This is my mother’s money! She just died, and I need to pay for the funeral…” David stopped and screamed, unable to hold back the sobs.

The homeless man stopped opposite David, his eyes wide with shock. Tears froze in his eyes. “Oh my God, is she dead?”

David’s heart pounded in his chest as he backed away. He didn’t understand why this stranger cared. “Yes, she’s dead! I need this money for her funeral! Please, just leave me alone!”

The man’s expression softened, and he took a tentative step forward, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. “I’m sorry for scaring you. I didn’t mean to. I just… I knew your mother.”

David blinked, his mind racing. “You knew her?”

The man nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. “Yes, she used to come by the shelter where I stay. She always brought food and warm clothes. She was a kind woman. I owe her my life.”

David was stunned. He knew his mother was generous and kind-hearted, but he hadn’t realized the extent of her kindness. “You knew her?”

“Yes,” the man said, his voice breaking. “She never judged me. She treated me like a human being when no one else would. I wanted to thank her, but now… it’s too late.”

David’s anger melted away, replaced by a deep sadness and a strange sense of connection. He looked at the man and saw the grief in his eyes, realizing they shared a common pain. “I’m sorry,” David said softly. “I didn’t know.”

The man wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’m the one who’s sorry, son. I just wanted to see if I could help. Your mother meant a lot to me. If there’s anything I can do…”

David hesitated, then nodded. “Maybe you can come to the funeral. She would’ve wanted that.”

The man nodded, a sad smile crossing his face. “I’d be honored. And don’t worry about the money. I’ll make sure you get there safely.”

Together, they walked toward the funeral home, an unlikely pair bound by the memory of a woman who had touched both their lives. David felt a strange sense of comfort knowing his mother’s kindness had created ripples that reached far beyond what he had imagined. As they walked, he shared stories of his mother, and the man listened, adding his own memories. In that shared grief, they found a semblance of peace and understanding.

And so, David learned that sometimes, even in the darkest times, there are unexpected connections that can help heal the deepest wounds.