During my time as a 22-year-old nurse, life was treating me well. I had a fulfilling job with a good income, enjoyed good health, and was in a relationship with a charming man named Rick.
Rick and I frequently went on dates, enjoying each other’s company. On one particular evening, as we were making our way back from an interesting outing, I noticed a destitute homeless man stumbling and collapsing a short distance ahead of us.
Rick also noticed the man’s plight, but he held me back and warned me against getting involved. “Ignore the beggar, Vanessa,” he cautioned. “Who knows, it could be a trick to rob us.”
“He appears to be in need of help,” I responded. “As a nurse, it’s my duty to assist those in need, and surely he wouldn’t attempt to rob me in the middle of town, right?”
With that, I disregarded Rick’s concerns and hurried over to the vulnerable man.
A swift assessment of his vital signs revealed that he had recently suffered a heart attack. It was crucial to perform CPR to prevent him from going into cardiac arrest, so I made the decision to administer it.
As I bent down, Rick’s voice pierced the air, commanding me to halt. “If your lips make contact with his, I will never kiss you again,” he declared.
Rick noticed the stranger too, but when I made a move to assist the person, he forcefully pulled me back, cautioning me against getting involved. “Pay no heed to the vagrant, Vanessa,” he warned. “It could be a scheme to rob us.”
“He appears to be in need of assistance,” I countered. “As a nurse, it is my duty to aid those in need, and surely he wouldn’t attempt to rob me in the middle of town, would he?”
With that, I shrugged off Rick’s grip and sprinted towards the helpless individual. A swift assessment of his condition revealed that he had just experienced a heart attack. Without prompt CPR, he was at risk of going into cardiac arrest, so I resolved to perform the life-saving procedure.
As I brought my face closer, Rick’s scream reverberated, demanding that I cease my actions. “If your lips touch his, I’ll never kiss you again,” he reiterated.
His words resonated with intensity, yet I chose to call his bluff. I refused to let the unfortunate man perish under my watch, so I proceeded with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Rick expressed his discontent vehemently, unleashing a series of angry outbursts before finally storming off. Promptly, I enlisted the help of a bystander to dial emergency services, and I accompanied the destitute man on his journey to the hospital where I worked.
For some inexplicable reason, I felt compelled to stay by the side of the unfortunate individual. Upon our arrival at the hospital, I took charge of his treatment and arranged for him to be admitted to a private ward.
Afterwards, I returned home to freshen up. Rick was conspicuously absent, and I welcomed the respite from his tirades as I was not in the mood to endure further chastisement. The following morning, I made my way back to the hospital to check on the hobo.
When he opened his eyes, I was the first person he laid eyes upon. However, instead of expressing concern for his well-being, he requested his belongings. I retrieved them for him, and amidst his possessions, he produced a letter, pleading with me to assist him in sending it.
“Is it addressed to your family?” I inquired.
“No,” he replied. “It is intended for a company.”
That was the extent of his explanation, and I hesitated to pry into his affairs, especially considering his reluctance to discuss them.
I tried to engage him in conversation about his family, but he revealed that he had no one. His appearance had markedly improved since our initial encounter. He possessed a captivating allure and introduced himself as Nathan.
We engaged in a lengthy conversation before I concluded my work shift. On my way home, I assisted him in mailing his letter. However, upon arriving at my house, I was met with a furious Rick. Reflecting on the situation, I regretted giving him a spare key, knowing it would grant him access to my private space and amplify his anger.
“Where have you been all day?” he demanded, his voice filled with fury. “With that hobo?”
“You’re well aware that I have a demanding job as a nurse, Rick,” I retorted, wearied by his constant drama.
The previous day, I had made numerous attempts to reach out to him, desperately seeking a conversation, but he never returned any of my calls. I kept my phone close, hoping for his call, but it never came. Yet there he stood, yelling at me for being out of his sight.
“Why did you ignore my calls?” I inquired, puzzled by his actions.
“That’s not the point, Vanessa!” he shouted. “I came here to inform you that it’s over between us.”
“What?” I gasped, taken aback by his declaration.
“We’re finished. I cannot be with a disobedient woman who may or may not engage in intimate contact with other men under the guise of saving them!” he declared before storming out.
I wept throughout the remainder of the night, drowning in sorrow. The following day, as I carried out my rounds, I made a startling discovery—the homeless man had vanished. However, my colleagues informed me that he had left the previous night in relatively good health, alleviating my concerns.
Several months later, I was taken aback by a grand bouquet of blood-red roses delivered to me. Alongside the lavish display of flowers, a note accompanied the gift.
“Dear Vanessa, I express my gratitude for your unwavering dedication in offering assistance. Please accept this bouquet and accompany the man who delivered it.”
Perplexed by the enigmatic message, my fellow nurses encouraged me to follow the gentleman who had brought the roses. Yielding to their advice, I embarked on a journey led by the mysterious messenger. He drove me to an upscale restaurant, where I had a rendezvous with none other than Nathan—the very same man I had once known as the hobo.
Nathan appeared remarkably transformed, no longer resembling a person living on the streets. Our conversation unraveled the enigma surrounding him. As it turned out, he was a brilliant scientist who had liquidated all his possessions to pursue the development of a groundbreaking drug.
The letter he had implored me to send contained his groundbreaking findings, capturing the attention of a prominent pharmaceutical company. Consequently, they had recruited Nathan to spearhead the creation of the revolutionary medication.
With the success of his groundbreaking drug, Nathan amassed great wealth, and he felt compelled to express his gratitude towards me. He acknowledged that had he lost his life on that fateful day, he would have never been able to fulfill his dreams.
Our conversations brought us immense joy, prompting Nathan to arrange another meeting the following day. Gradually, these encounters became a regular occurrence, intertwining our lives. After several months, he knelt down on one knee and asked for my hand in marriage. Overwhelmed by a sense of destiny, I joyfully accepted his proposal.
In an unexpected twist of fate, my former boyfriend fell ill at a certain point. However, thanks to the drug research conducted by my fiancé, he was cured. He managed to trace my address and pleaded for me to return to him. Resolute in my decision, I declined his plea, for I had already made my choice. Not only did it bring me happiness, but it also bestowed upon me a newfound wealth.
