Rebecca coped with her depression by organizing her life so there’d be no time for it. She’d been doing that for years since the divorce. Until one persistent stranger decided to interfere with her strict, lonely routine. Little did Rebecca know, he’d become the one person she’d end up missing.
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In the dim light of her bedroom, Rebecca lay on her back, her gaze locked on the digital clock beside her bed.
The numbers read 6:29. She took a steady breath, waiting for the clock to change.
As soon as it clicked to 6:30, the alarm went off, but Rebecca was quick to silence it.
She sat up, threw the covers aside, and rose from the bed with practiced precision.
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First things first—Rebecca smoothed out her sheets, arranging every corner until the bed looked crisp and perfectly made.
She walked into the bathroom, where everything had its place.
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Her toothbrush rested neatly in a holder, the soap was placed just so in a dish, and a small mirror hung over the sink.
Rebecca took a moment to look at her own reflection, her expression calm but distant.
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She was forty-seven, with lines of experience and resilience etched onto her face.
Seven years had passed since her divorce, and though the pain had dulled, it had left behind a scar.
Her response to the heartache had been order, discipline, and strict routine. These things brought her a sense of control, something solid to hold onto when life felt chaotic.
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At exactly seven o’clock, Rebecca laced up her running shoes, plugged in her headphones, and stepped outside, ready for her morning jog.
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For years, these runs had been her escape, a time to strengthen her body while listening to audiobooks that exercised her mind.
It was her shield against sadness, each step a way to push forward.
But for the past month, something had started to disrupt her carefully designed routine—a neighbor named Charlie, who seemed determined to break through her guarded solitude, one cheerful “good morning” at a time.
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Charlie’s house was right across the street, and every morning, just as Rebecca fell into her steady pace, he would come bounding out, waving his arms like an enthusiastic kid, barely managing to keep his sneakers on.
This morning was no different. Rebecca spotted him out of the corner of her eye as he hopped down his steps, shoving his shoelaces into his sneakers in a hurry to catch up.
She sighed, rolling her eyes and speeding up, hoping he’d get the hint this time. But, as always, Charlie wouldn’t be discouraged so easily.
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“Rebecca! Wait, it’s me!” he called, his voice cheerful as he jogged over, waving with one hand and holding his side with the other.
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Rebecca pretended not to hear him and kept her eyes straight ahead, her footsteps rhythmic and focused.
But Charlie was determined, and soon he was jogging alongside her, albeit slightly out of breath.
“You’re fast… as always,” he managed between pants, giving her a crooked smile as he tried to match her pace.
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Rebecca pulled out one of her earbuds and glanced at him, feigning surprise. “Oh, hi, didn’t see you there,” she replied, with just a hint of annoyance.
She had her whole morning planned out, and chatting with her neighbor hadn’t been on the agenda.
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“No problem, totally my fault for being late,” Charlie said, his breath still coming in gasps.
Rebecca could see he was trying hard to keep up, yet he looked pleased just to be running alongside her.
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She gave a small, dismissive nod and was about to put her earbud back in when Charlie chimed in again.
“Hey, want to hear a joke?” he asked eagerly, his voice carrying that unbreakable enthusiasm she found both irritating and oddly endearing.
“You’d save more breath if you talked less while running…” she muttered, but he ignored her suggestion.
“Why did the scarecrow get a promotion?” he asked, grinning.
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Rebecca sighed. She knew better than to indulge him, but she couldn’t help herself.
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Because he was outstanding in his field!” Charlie delivered the punchline with a broad, triumphant grin, his eyes bright with expectation.
Rebecca paused, rolling the joke over in her mind, and against her better judgment, a chuckle escaped her lips.
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She quickly tried to stifle it, but it was too late. Charlie had seen her reaction, and his face lit up with delight.
“See? You smiled! I’m getting better at this,” he noted with satisfaction, practically glowing at his small victory.
Rebecca shook her head, but her smile lingered, however brief.
“I’ll give it to you, that one wasn’t… too bad,” she conceded, still pretending to be unimpressed.
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Charlie threw a fist in the air, grinning as if he’d won a prize.
“Finally! Progress!” he cheered, laughing.
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Rebecca picked up her pace again, leaving Charlie struggling to keep up.
Each morning, Rebecca found herself looking forward to the sight of Charlie bounding out of his house with his untied sneakers and his cheerful grin.
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His silly jokes that once made her roll her eyes had grown on her, and she found herself smiling more often, even laughing aloud, which was something she hadn’t done in a long time.
More surprising to her, she had started to slow her pace—just a bit—so they could talk longer.
Charlie’s enthusiasm and light-heartedness had a way of softening the strict walls Rebecca had built around herself.
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He had even managed to slip past her strict routine, something she thought no one could do.
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As she laced up her shoes and looked out the window, Rebecca found herself glancing at his house, as she had started doing most mornings. Today, though, something felt different.
The door to his house was shut tight, and there was no sign of him.
She checked her watch and waited, telling herself not to worry. But after a few more minutes passed, doubt crept in.
This wasn’t like Charlie—he was always so excited to join her.
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She hesitated, feeling a strange mix of concern and disappointment, but finally, she walked over to his house and knocked on the door.
She tapped her foot as she waited, glancing around and hoping he’d just forgotten to wake up. But there was no answer.
She rang the doorbell again, then leaned close to the window, peeking inside, but the rooms were still and quiet.
“Charlie! Are you there?” she called, trying to keep her voice steady. “Come on, you’re missing our jog!”
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She hoped he’d suddenly appear, laughing and apologizing for being late. But all she heard was silence.
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Just then, an elderly voice spoke from nearby.
“Who’s shouting out here?” Startled, Rebecca turned to see Mrs. Lewis, an elderly woman who lived next door to Charlie, watching her with curiosity.
“Oh, Mrs. Lewis,” Rebecca said, feeling embarrassed for the outburst.
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“I usually run with Charlie, but he didn’t show up today. Maybe he overslept,” she added, her voice quieter, almost as if she were speaking to herself.
She felt a pang of worry, wondering if maybe he simply didn’t want to run with her anymore.
Mrs. Lewis shook her head, looking concerned.
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“Overslept? Oh no, dear. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance last night.”
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Rebecca’s heart skipped a beat.
“The hospital? What happened to him?”
Mrs. Lewis sighed, clearly upset herself.
“I’m not sure. I only saw the ambulance pull up and take him away. It’s such a shame. Poor man lives alone with no one to watch over him.”
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Rebecca stood there, processing the news, a wave of guilt and worry washing over her.
She had only known Charlie for a short while, but in that time, he had somehow become a part of her life, someone she looked forward to seeing.
Without a second thought, Rebecca thanked Mrs. Lewis, turned around, and headed back home to grab her purse and keys. There was only one hospital nearby, and she needed to find him.
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Rebecca felt her heart racing as she walked through the bustling halls of the hospital, the antiseptic smell filling her nose and making her even more anxious. She took a steadying breath as she approached the reception desk, hoping to sound calm.
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“Good morning,” she said, her voice just a bit shaky. “I’m looking for a patient who was admitted last night. His name is Charlie.”
The receptionist raised an eyebrow, looking over her glasses. “Do you have a last name, ma’am?”
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Rebecca felt herself blush. “No, sorry… I only know him as Charlie. We just… met recently,” she admitted, realizing how strange it must sound.
The receptionist gave her a slightly skeptical look. “You do know that only family or close relatives are typically allowed to visit patients, right?”
“I… I’m his girlfriend,” she blurted, surprising even herself.
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The receptionist’s eyes softened as a small smile crept onto her face. “Girlfriend, huh?” She tapped a few keys on her computer, a slight twinkle in her eyes.
“You might as well learn his last name, then. You’ll need it if he’s going to be around,” she said with a wink.
“Charlie Sanders. Room 113. I’ll take you there.”
Rebecca felt her heart flip as she whispered a quick “thank you” and followed the receptionist down the hall.
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Before they even reached the room, she could hear Charlie’s familiar laughter, his voice carrying through the doorway as he shared a joke with someone in the room.
The receptionist rapped gently on the wall to announce Rebecca’s arrival.
“Charlie, there’s a lady here to see you… she says she’s your girlfriend,” she added, a hint of playfulness in her voice as she glanced at Rebecca.
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Charlie’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw her. “Yes, yes! Rebecca, come on in. Of course, she’s here for me,” he said with a grin, gesturing for her to come closer.
Rebecca felt a rush of relief as she walked over to sit beside him.
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Charlie looked tired but cheerful, as if the hospital gown and the IV were just minor inconveniences in his day.
She glanced at him, both relieved and exasperated. “Girlfriend, huh?” Charlie teased, raising his eyebrows playfully.
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Rebecca gave him a mock-scowl. “I had to say something to get in here, didn’t I? And you missed our jog this morning! What happened?” she asked, a touch of concern creeping into her voice.
Charlie sighed, shifting slightly in the bed.
“Well… it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but those jogs? Not exactly great for my health.”
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Rebecca’s face fell. “What do you mean?”
He glanced down, looking a little sheepish.
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“I have a heart condition. Doctor’s orders are to avoid anything too intense… like trying to keep up with you,” he admitted with a wry smile.
Her heart sank, and she shook her head in disbelief.
“Charlie, why didn’t you tell me? You shouldn’t have been running at all!”
Charlie gave a small, lopsided smile.
“Well… if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have seen you. I wouldn’t have gotten to know you.”
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Rebecca felt her face soften, a mix of surprise and affection warming her heart.
“So you were willing to risk your health just to talk to me?” she asked quietly, looking him in the eye.
He nodded, his expression turning serious.
“Yes,” he said simply.
“I’ve watched you every morning, jogging at the same time, like clockwork. I’ve seen you give things to charity, help the neighbors. You’re… you’re someone special, Rebecca.”
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Rebecca felt a lump form in her throat, his words striking her in a way she hadn’t expected.
She reached over and took his hand, squeezing it gently.
“Charlie,” she said, her voice soft, “you don’t need to run to spend time with me. How about dinner at my place instead?”
Charlie’s face broke into a warm smile.
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“Now that sounds a lot safer for my heart,” he replied, his eyes shining. “I think the doctor would definitely approve.”
Rebecca chuckled, feeling the tension in her chest ease as they shared a smile.
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“I hope so,” she murmured, looking forward to an evening that didn’t involve heart-stopping runs but instead a quiet meal with someone who, in a short time, had become surprisingly important to her.
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Pequeno órfão reza na igreja para que a mãe venha buscá-lo, ‘Eu te levo’, ele ouve um dia – História do dia
Um garotinho órfão chora na igreja, implorando a Deus para enviar sua mãe para levá-lo. No minuto seguinte, ele fica pálido quando uma voz responde por trás, dizendo: “Eu te levo.”
Uma série de emoções não contadas está ligada a crianças abandonadas pelos pais. Alan, de seis anos, era uma dessas crianças negligenciadas que ansiava por ver sua mãe, mas nunca teve essa chance.
Um dia, em um encontro fortuito na igreja, o mundo do pequeno Alan mudou. Ele estava chorando, implorando a Deus para enviar sua mãe até ele, dizendo a Deus o quão diferente seu mundo seria se sua mãe estivesse com ele.
Em meio aos seus altos gritos e à discussão emocionante com Deus, uma voz estranha falou por trás, oferecendo-se para levá-lo…
Apenas para fins ilustrativos | Fonte: Unsplash
“Querido Jesus, dizem que você ouve tudo. Meus guardiões no lar adotivo me disseram para bater na sua porta e pedir tudo o que eu precisava. Eu quero minha mamãe. Você pode, por favor, mandá-la para mim?”
“Alan, meu garoto! Eu vim por você. Eu vim para te levar para casa.”
Alan chorou enquanto cruzava as mãos em oração e olhava para o crucifixo. Seus olhos estavam dolorosamente vermelhos, e suas bochechas macias e rosadas estavam molhadas.
“Minha babá me disse que você atende às orações de todos. Então por que não atende às minhas?”
O vestíbulo ecoou com os altos gritos de Alan. Ele estava com o coração partido. Ele não queria voltar para o abrigo, onde as crianças frequentemente zombavam dele. Elas constantemente o provocavam dizendo que sua mãe nunca voltaria e que ele não tinha escolha a não ser esperar que alguém o adotasse.
“Ninguém estaria interessado em levar um bebê chorão como você para casa”, foram algumas das coisas mais duras que ele ouviu de outras crianças no abrigo. Alan chorou muito naquele dia, exigindo de Deus uma resposta.
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“Alan, shhh!”, interrompeu sua guardiã, Nancy. “É uma igreja. Fique quieto e não chore. As pessoas estão observando você. Por favor, acalme-se.”
Alan tentou controlar suas lágrimas. Ele continuou olhando para o crucifixo até que viu uma mulher com uma criança entrar na igreja. Ele não conseguiu mais segurar as lágrimas e começou a chorar novamente.
“Jesus, você não está me respondendo. Por favor, eu quero ficar com minha mamãe como aquela menina. Babá, por que Jesus não está respondendo? Você me disse que ele respondeu todas as nossas orações, mas por que ele não me disse nada?”
Nancy olhou para o menino e sorriu para suas perguntas inocentes.
“Eu te levo”, uma voz de mulher disse de repente atrás deles. “Meu bebê, eu vim por você. Por favor, pare de chorar.”
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Alan e Nancy ficaram assustados. Eles se viraram, e atrás deles estava a mulher com a criança que Alan tinha visto momentos antes.
“Alan, meu garoto! Eu vim por você. Eu vim para te levar para casa”, ela gritou.
“Quem é você? Como sabe o nome do garoto?” questionou Nancy, segurando Alan com força.
“Meu nome é Annette. Sou a mãe de Alan. Venho aqui todos os dias para vê-lo e garantir que ele está bem.”
“Seu filho? Você tem alguma prova?”
Annette tirou uma foto dela segurando um bebê recém-nascido nos braços. “Eu o deixei na porta do abrigo há seis anos.”
“Isso é inacreditável. Era assim que Alan parecia quando o peguei na porta pela primeira vez naquela noite chuvosa. Ouvi o choro alto de um bebê lá fora no pátio e o encontrei lá. Por que você deixou seu bebê? Como pode ser uma mãe tão sem coração?”
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Annette começou a chorar e contou a história mais triste de sua vida.
Seis anos atrás, ela tinha 16 anos e acidentalmente engravidou do filho do namorado. Depois que ela revelou isso a ele, ele a abandonou e se mudou para outro estado, bloqueando o contato dela. Os pais de Annette a aconselharam a interromper a gravidez, mas ela não conseguiu.
“Meus pais me deram apenas uma escolha — abandonar meu bebê ou esquecê-los e o legado que eu herdaria. Eu era muito ingênua e jovem para me tornar mãe, então deixei meu bebê recém-nascido no abrigo e segui em frente.”
Annette acrescentou que terminou a faculdade e se casou com outro homem. A garota que estava com ela, Amy, era sua filha desse casamento.
“Eu tentei o meu melhor, mas não consegui esquecer meu filho. Visito esta igreja frequentemente para observá-lo de longe. Mas depois de ouvi-lo chorando por sua mãe hoje, não consegui mais me segurar. Quero levá-lo para casa comigo.”
Logo, Annette começou as formalidades legais para obter a custódia de Alan de volta. Ela fez testes de DNA com ele, revelando que eles eram mãe e filho por uma compatibilidade de 99 por cento. Embora ela tenha levado Alan para casa com sucesso e restaurado o relacionamento deles, isso veio com um preço alto.
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Os pais de Annette se voltaram contra ela e a cortaram de suas vidas e de seu testamento. Pior ainda, seu marido se voltou contra ela, apesar de saber a verdade sobre seu passado obscuro.
“Eu casei com você porque você foi honesta sobre seu relacionamento fracassado com seu ex-namorado e pensou que nunca mais iria querer aquela criança. Mas agora, até seus pais a rejeitaram. Olha, eu não estou disposto a ser pai do filho de outra pessoa. Estou pronto para sustentar minha filha financeiramente, mas nosso casamento acabou”, disse seu marido Jason, imediatamente entrando com o pedido de divórcio.
Annette e Jason se divorciaram logo depois. Annette conseguiu a custódia da filha e ficou encantada em ter Alan de volta.
“Nunca mais venha até nós implorando por dinheiro” foram as últimas palavras que ela ouviu seus pais lhe dizerem, e Annette estava bem com isso. Ela sentia que sua vida estava completa, mesmo sem a aprovação de seus pais ou seu dinheiro.
Ela se mudou para o exterior com seus dois filhos maravilhosos, conseguiu um bom emprego e só pensa em viver uma vida feliz.
Apenas para fins ilustrativos | Fonte: Unsplash
O que podemos aprender com essa história?
- Deus responde às nossas orações. Sempre que Alan ia à igreja, ele chorava e pedia a Deus para enviar sua mãe até ele. Um dia, suas orações foram respondidas quando ele ouviu uma voz se oferecendo para levá-lo, e era sua mãe.
- Não abandone seus filhos e os puna por um erro que você cometeu. Quando Annette engravidou aos 16 anos, seus pais lhe disseram para abandonar o bebê. Ela obedeceu e seguiu em frente, sem saber como isso afetaria seu filho conforme ele crescesse.
Uma garotinha chora na igreja, pedindo a Deus para salvar a vida de sua avó doente. De repente, uma voz fala atrás dela, oferecendo ajuda. Clique aqui para ler a história completa.
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