A Heart of Gold

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Zack stood there in the dark, staring at the wooden chest and breathing heavily. His heart pounded in his chest and drops of sweat lined his forehead, as he stood there, lost in thought.

 “It is not going to be a big deal. The old man would lament for a few days and eventually forget what happened” he thought to himself.

He had broken into Ben's house at midnight, knowing that the old man was out of town for a couple of days.

The last few months had been a struggle for Zack. He had lost his job and was striving hard to make ends meet. He had tried looking for a job, but in vain. People in the neighbourhood were hesitant to lend him money, when they had got to know of his plight.

That was when he had heard his son rant to his wife about the old man, next door and the fortune he had been saving with the hopes of building a tombstone for his beloved wife, some day.

Desperation and frustration urged him to make a rash decision and thus he made up his mind and broke into his house.
 
He swiftly approached the wooden chest, broke the lock and heaved it open. The chest was filled with pictures of Ben’s wife, some of her possessions and souvenirs and a beautifully carved wooden box. 

Zack picked the wooden box and opened it slowly. As expected, the box contained some money and a neatly folded sheet of paper. 

He unfolded the paper and realised that it was a letter from Ben. Zack started reading it and froze in place. 


He stood there, like a rock and when he had finished reading the letter, he collapsed on the floor and broke down completely.

He wailed, banging his fists on the floor, while the letter lay open by his side.

It read,

"Dear Zack,

Life had been miserable and meaningless after losing my beloved Emma. She had been the love of my life, my family, my all. She had taken away all my happiness and joy and I was as lifeless as a piece of stone, after her demise. 

I had no desire to live and was dolefully counting my last days on earth. 

That was when, your son came into my life like a blessing. 

Young Henry breathed life into me and made me look forward to every day with hope. He strengthened me and brought a whole lot of meaning into my life and made me realise the joy, little things can bring. 

He was a miracle indeed! How I wished we could have had a child like him!!

One day, I was shattered, when I had heard of Henry’s congenital heart condition from your wife. 

Life seems unfair even to an innocent little kid like him! 

The little boy deserves a good life and I decided to do all it took to make sure he gets one!

Since then, I have been saving every penny for him and not for Emma’s tombstone. 

I'm sure this is what she would have wanted too.

I may probably be dead, by the time you read this letter. 

But I would be blessing him and wishing him well, wherever I may be.

Save the lad's life!

Because he had saved mine and I owe 

him one.”

Love,

Ben.



________________________________________


Image Credits : https://www.freepik.com

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