The lost wallet, a great love story! | Motivational Stories
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The lost wallet, a great love story!

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline–1924. The letter had been written almost 60 years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a “Dear John” letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him anymore because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him.

It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.

“Operator,” I began, “this is an unusual request. I’m trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?”

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, “Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can’t give you the number.” She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me.

I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. “I have a party who will speak with you.”

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, “Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!”

“Would you know where that family could be located now?” I asked.

“I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago,” the woman said. “Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter.”

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.

I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.

This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?

Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, “Yes, Hannah is staying with us.”

Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her. “Well,” he said hesitatingly, “if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television.”

I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.

She was a sweet, silver-haired oldtimer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, “Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael.”

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, “I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor.”

“Yes,” she continued. “Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And,” she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, “tell him I still love him. You know,” she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, “I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael…”

I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, “Was the old lady able to help you?”

I told him she had given me a lead. “At least I have a last name. But I think I’ll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet.”

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, “Hey, wait a minute! That’s Mr. Goldstein’s wallet. I’d know it anywhere with that bright red lacing. He’s always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times.”

“Who’s Mr. Goldstein?” I asked as my hand began to shake.

“He’s one of the oldtimers on the 8th floor. That’s Mike Goldstein’s wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks.” I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse’s office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up.

On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, “I think he’s still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He’s a darling old man.”

We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, “Oh, it is missing!”

“This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?”

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, “Yes, that’s it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward.”

“No, thank you,” I said. “But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet.”

The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. “You read that letter?”

“Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is.”

He suddenly grew pale. “Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me,” he begged.

“She’s fine…just as pretty as when you knew her.” I said softly.

The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, “Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow.” He grabbed my hand and said, “You know something, Mister? I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I’ve always loved her.”

“Mr. Goldstein,” I said, “Come with me.”

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her.

“Hannah,” she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. “Do you know this man?”

She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn’t say a word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, “Hannah, it’s Michael. Do you remember me?”

She gasped, “Michael! I don’t believe it! Michael! It’s you! My Michael!” He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.

“See,” I said. “See how the Good Lord works! If it’s meant to be, it will be.”

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. “Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!”

It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

Author Unknown
Story was submitted by visitor: Taurus Queen
“…dateline–1924… 60 years…”: This story was probably written close to 30 years ago. 

{ 105 comments… add one }
  • Trina September 1, 2013, 11:12 am

    Can’t stop crying, such a beautiful story.

  • Ramesh September 1, 2013, 5:00 am

    It’s so inspiring and holly love story that I ever read so far. I like it. One must love his/her beloved till the last breath despite any hardships in the process. HOPE TO meet my lover (SUROBI) someday.

  • Van August 29, 2013, 7:15 pm

    That’s a good story about true love. I wish everyone happy after reading it!

  • Williamn Gee August 24, 2013, 11:16 pm

    The “story” is nice but it’s just a STORY. This kind of thing doesn’t happen in real life. Ever….

  • Esther August 23, 2013, 8:00 am

    I wish todays world could embrace this meaning of true love. Awesome.

  • Dani andom August 14, 2013, 7:42 pm

    True love never dies. God bless them!!!

  • Rachael August 8, 2013, 5:54 am

    Wow…just wow…I actually have tears in my eyes lol it’s like a romance movie, with all the twists and turns ans then the happy ending! God it’s amazing!

  • Pankaj Rai August 8, 2013, 12:20 am

    It’s amazing, I’mmm wordless.

  • Lidiya August 6, 2013, 9:09 am

    ‘What’ and ‘If’ are the words non threatening as words can be… But put them together ‘what if’ ‘what if’ ‘what if’ they have the power to taunt you for the rest of your life!! If our love is true then, why can’t it be true now? That must be the only reason for their success in finding each other after so long a time… loved it!!

  • Jhony Tacha August 5, 2013, 3:06 pm

    Story is the one friend of the life…

  • Khaila Galvez July 25, 2013, 3:11 am

    I was really touched after reading this story.. it gave me a glimpse of idea that distance, time and space are not really matters for the two persons who really love each other. If they are meant to be, they are because true love waits…

  • Nizel July 20, 2013, 6:50 am

    This story was so amazing! That’s what we called a true love not only an fling thing but!!? hooh! so nice just read it?:)

  • Preeti July 19, 2013, 11:43 am

    A really, very heart touching story. That’s called a true love 🙂

  • Ipsa July 8, 2013, 1:06 pm

    I’m completely spellbound.. I know what it means to truly love someone.

  • Zoey Ishanah June 26, 2013, 3:25 am

    True love will always find its way 🙂

  • Leizel June 14, 2013, 8:04 am

    What a nice story..!! How great God is for creating such..wonderful lovestory.. !!

  • Taramaecoldura June 5, 2013, 1:21 pm

    As I read it, I do now believe that true love and happy-ever-after really do exist…. It will be just a matter of right time and place but it’s worth the wait. God already made our love story… That’s why everything happens for a reason and what what ever we will do or have done, affect our story in life…

    But one thing for sure love always find it’s way.. I’m hoping to meet my one true love at right time! And have a great love story like this… I’ll be patienly waiting for you! 🙂

  • Anoop.K.Francis May 31, 2013, 9:55 am

    It’s not a story.. it’s a life.. I feel sorrow for them, that why they didn’t join yet? May God bless them.. Thank you Mr.Stephen for this marvellous creation.

  • Suvakanta samantray May 29, 2013, 6:03 am

    A heart touching story. Thanks for sharing.

  • Gladys May 24, 2013, 4:18 am

    Such great love story! My tears fell on this story!

    “If it’s meant to be. It will be.”

  • Dianna May 22, 2013, 10:17 pm

    My tears fell after reading the story though it’s not a sad story. Maybe, I’m just carried away by how great their love is to each other. I hope mine and my husband is same as well.

  • Shivangini May 21, 2013, 2:18 am

    It’s really a lovely story, I loved it. It’s true story of love which never ends………..!!!

  • Angel May 8, 2013, 5:07 pm

    Wow..nice story hope my love story would be like that…

  • Raman May 8, 2013, 1:19 am

    That’s called real love….what a story.

  • Md.Faisal April 22, 2013, 5:16 pm

    Speechless story. I also love someone but I never said to her that I loved her in last 8 years now she is with someone and I am alone, I wish my fate as good as Michale.

  • Leila April 20, 2013, 11:39 am

    Thanks for story. I enjoy a lot. It’s wonder full. I try to advice my class mate to read that.

  • Okanga Juniour April 16, 2013, 2:31 am

    Wow so nice…. humanity survives purely because of love for each other, I like this quote “It it’s meant to be it will be no matter what happens.”

  • Ratan April 13, 2013, 6:35 am

    I felt like I was reading a classic love story. But if it is really true, it is incredible and worth sharing.

  • Jas April 6, 2013, 1:44 am

    It’s a very, very super story.

  • Iqbal Singh March 9, 2013, 9:06 am

    A successful love story.

  • Iqbal Singh March 9, 2013, 9:04 am

    A successful love story.

  • Swasthika February 23, 2013, 9:41 am

    It was amazing.

  • Raviya February 23, 2013, 3:15 am

    The sepration from a person like this is very tough but it has happy ending. Great love at last!

    Nice story!

  • Ravi Kuran Karmacharya February 18, 2013, 6:09 am

    Too good, courageous, heart touching story. I liked it very much and hope everybody will like it.

  • Rahul Aggarwal February 5, 2013, 2:21 pm

    Great..it was an awesome story. I think everbody likes this story…..

  • Gaurav February 1, 2013, 7:58 am

    This was an awesome story I had ever heard about. Thanks.

  • ChrissyLissy January 30, 2013, 7:10 am

    I love the story, it’s a great touching love story!!!

  • Max Jack January 19, 2013, 5:09 am

    It is really touching my heart. I hope it will not happen to me but I really, really loved this story.

  • Ashly Patropes January 15, 2013, 3:46 am

    It’s amazing.. I really like the composition… It’s a story to be inspired of.

  • Roshan Zameer Mysore January 11, 2013, 7:00 am

    Awesome love story.

  • Arun Kumar January 2, 2013, 11:57 pm

    Love doesn’t mean living together hugging, kissing or something, it means that none can define perfecthy LOVE in the world includuing the greatr GOD. But after reading this story I felt true love, TRUE LOVE means not only living together but living for ONE ANOTHER till the last breath….

  • Aparna December 23, 2012, 3:15 am

    It is love..

  • Sonika December 21, 2012, 4:30 am

    It is very nice love story.

  • Deza December 21, 2012, 12:02 am

    I love this story! 🙂

  • Deza December 20, 2012, 11:59 pm

    Very inspiring story! 🙂

  • Prasurjya December 16, 2012, 8:28 am

    So touching…loved it from the core of my heart..coz i know dis not going to happen wid me…♥ ♥

  • Pravinkumar December 13, 2012, 5:30 am

    Awesome, true love always have Sweet End !!!!!!

  • Nabila November 29, 2012, 4:17 am

    True love story….just amazing.. <3 <3

  • Sahar November 25, 2012, 5:15 am

    It was awesome…. I love it 🙂

  • Chie Villarin November 14, 2012, 3:02 pm

    Amazing love story.. I wish I have the same story too.. I wish I am Hannah.. love it!

  • Fi Fi Panache November 14, 2012, 11:51 am

    Oh it broke my heart 🙂 so sad but so happy xD

  • Mariaetete November 13, 2012, 6:31 am

    Do u know am still crying? What a good ending.

  • Abhishek Prajapat October 29, 2012, 1:46 pm

    I hope everyone should get his love before end of life……I really loved it.

  • Kathryn October 8, 2012, 1:43 am

    So sweet!!!

  • Shriya September 14, 2012, 7:30 am

    Nice one…:)

  • ZOE August 20, 2012, 7:55 pm

    Very heartwarming story. Oh, to be loved this long by someone.

  • Shruthi August 13, 2012, 11:24 am

    Am speechless.

  • Sharon Abiola July 6, 2012, 7:36 pm

    This is great. Short of word.

  • Shakil July 5, 2012, 11:48 pm

    It made me cry, tears are rolling down very badly, if its real then its really very-very bad that they waited for such a long time to be together, but finally by God grace they met again and story ended happily. I’m Happy for this.

    My love to Micheal & Hannah. I wish your love story may never die…! You Two Will be alive forever and ever through your touching and tears bringing story.

  • Kavya July 4, 2012, 4:27 am

    Very touching story 🙂 Love never ends…..

  • Vishu July 3, 2012, 4:52 am

    Lovely. It is damn good love story. I wish I would love someone in this way… never ending… selfless love.

  • Avi July 3, 2012, 4:19 am

    It’s a nice love story.

  • Sylvia June 28, 2012, 9:42 am

    So inspiring..it made me cry for joy.. thank you..

  • Mo-mo June 27, 2012, 8:19 am

    This is truly a love story, wow!

  • Ken wa Nyabuto June 25, 2012, 5:05 am

    This story has much inspired me.

  • Prashant Kumar Singh June 23, 2012, 12:06 pm

    This story was so amazing.

  • Choo June 23, 2012, 2:00 am

    A very good and touching story. I believe this story is real and I hope that. I hope I will found my true love one day.

    Share this story as it was so amazing !

  • Kiran June 22, 2012, 4:51 am

    I felt it was my own story and I wish I would meet my girl friend (Vanaja N) one day and I would be speechless, may God give enough courage at that time.

  • Arindam June 22, 2012, 3:15 am

    Love this story..Thanks to the author for making this happen.

  • Emmanuel Peter June 20, 2012, 2:53 pm

    I wish I will one day have someone tell the same story about me and someone I love so much to wait for that long. Love the story. It’s inspiring.

  • Tabish Peerzada June 19, 2012, 12:20 am

    A beautiful love story indeed… 🙂

  • Safia Faruqi June 18, 2012, 1:05 pm

    Beautiful story

    The love story itself is not so unusual….the good samaritan tendency is missing in todays world…..only the occasional do-gooder takes time and effort out fr a selfless act.

    Brought a lump in my throat. God bless!

  • Lshrat June 14, 2012, 10:33 am

    Nice story!… maybe this is why they say, it’s never to late to tell the one you love..:)

  • Mars June 13, 2012, 1:34 pm

    Love begets love. It reflects the real love. Even being apart from each other for decades, with no contact at all, they still had same respectfull love for each other.

    But unfortunately present mindsets have changed the meaning of love to physical relation. Even the word of love has been damaged. Love is far away from physical connection. It is something that cant be expressed in words. It is a feeling and the word feeling itself is yet undefined.

  • Nihed June 13, 2012, 12:52 pm

    Such a touching story, I am speechless. That is what I call it real love.

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