Anna was hurrying to get to the office after a business meeting with some partners.
To save time, she took the attack through a city park. The sun shone on the avenues, but a cold wind from the river pierced her bones. Anna shivered and hunched her coat further around her.
Pedestrians moved quickly, paying no attention to each other. Anna also walked quickly, fearing she might be late for an important meeting. Suddenly, her gaze fell on a secluded bench, far from the main road.
An elderly man sat on that bench. He was neatly dressed, holding a cane, and staring thoughtfully into the distance. Something about his appearance made Anna slow down.
“Excuse me, what time is it?” the old man asked, noticing her gaze.
“It’s 1:30,” Anna replied, looking at her watch.
The man climbed up the stairs and looked at the horizon again. Anna was about to leave, but noticed a confused look in his eyes.
“Is everything okay? Do you need help?” the young woman asked, approaching.
The old man looked at her gratefully.
“I think I’m lost,” he said softly. “I went for a walk, and now I can’t find my way home.”
Anna sat down next to him. The meeting no longer seemed so urgent. She asked sweetly:
“Can you tell me your name?”
“My name is Viktor Semenovich,” he replied after a brief pause.
“Do you remember your address or the phone number of any family members?” Anna asked gently.
Viktor squinted, trying to concentrate. After a minute, he slowly said his address and a phone number. Anna took out her cell phone and dialed the number.
“Hello?” a male voice answered.
“Good morning!” “I’m in the city park near Lenin Street with Viktor Semenovich. I think he’s lost,” Anna explained.
“Dad?!” the voice exclaimed, full of relief. “Thank you so much! I’ll be there right away. Please stay with him.”
After hanging up the call, Anna returned to the old man, who was visibly shivering from the cold. Without hesitation, she took off her jacket and draped it over Viktor’s shoulders.
“Oh, no, there’s no need,” the old man protested.
“Don’t worry, I’m not cold,” Anna assured him, although the wind was already freezing her.
They began to chat. Viktor talked about his life, about his son, who was always absorbed in work. Anna listened attentively, occasionally glancing at her watch.
After a quarter of an hour, an elegant black car stopped near the park.
A man in his forties got out and quickly approached. Anna immediately noticed the familiar resemblance.
“Dad!” the man said. “I told you not to go out alone!”
“I thought I could do it, Sergei,” Viktor replied with a guilty expression.
Sergei helped his father up and turned to Anna.
“I don’t know how to thank you!” “I don’t even want to think about what could have happened,” he said sincerely. “What’s her name?”
“Anna,” she replied, putting her jacket back on.
“Anna, I’m so grateful for your kindness. I promise my father will never be alone again. We’ll take her there.”
Anna greeted them and hurried to the office. The meeting had already started, but no one commented on the delay.
The day passed in a fog. She couldn’t concentrate on her work. After lunch, she found an envelope on the desk. Inside was a note with an address and a time for an appointment. The sender was the large group “StroyInvest.”
Anna knew the company, but who could have sent her that invitation? Curiosity prevailed. During her lunch break, she headed to the address indicated.
In front of her was a modern glass and concrete building. She went upstairs and entered a large office. Behind a large desk stood a familiar face. Sergei, displeased, invited her to sit down.
“Are you surprised?” he asked, noticing her astonishment.
“Actually, yes,” Anna admitted. “I didn’t expect that.”
“She helped my father yesterday without expecting anything in return,” Sergei began. “You know, few people stop to help a stranger.”
Anna shrugged shyly.
“I value people who are capable of empathy without expecting anything in return,” Sergei continued. “That’s why I’d like to make you a proposal.”
He took out a folder and placed it in front of Anna.
“I’m offering you a position in my company. Double your current salary, company housing, and excellent career prospects.”
Anna skimmed the terms of the contract. The offer seemed incredible. She looked at Sergei.
“Is it just because of what happened yesterday?”
“I checked her skills. She’s an excellent professional. What happened yesterday only confirmed her human qualities,” he replied.
Anna asked for time to think it over.
A week later, she was already working at StroyInvest. Her work was valued and her opinion heard. Sergei and I spent more and more time together.
At first, it was just business meetings and lunches. Then Sergei invited her to dinner at a restaurant. She won, without really knowing why. A special bond grew between them, difficult to explain in words.
One afternoon, while walking along the riverbank, Sergei confessed to her:
“You know, I’m glad my father was missing that day.”
Anna was upset. She, too, was grateful for that chance encounter. From that day on, her life changed radically.
The conversations between them became increasingly personal. Sergei wanted to know her opinions, her memories, her favorite books. The meetings turned into long talks about everything.
One evening, Sergei said to her:
“You are a special person, Anna. It’s rare to find someone with such a big heart.”
Anna looked down, embarrassed. She had always considered herself an ordinary person, and such praise made her feel uncomfortable.
Soon, Sergei brought her with him to important meetings, introducing her not just as a colleague, but as someone he could trust. Her colleagues noticed the director’s attention, but no one dared to comment.
Spring gave way to summer. Work days alternated with walks along the river. One day, Sergei invited Anna to his country house. The spacious rooms had a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
“My father likes to spend his weekends here,” Sergei explained.
Viktor Semenovich greeted Anna cheerfully. The man seemed to be in very good shape, much better than that day in the park. He remembered Anna and was pleased about it.
“My son told me you’re working with us now,” he smiled as he poured tea on the terrace.
Afternoons immersed in nature, long conversations under the starry sky… Anna didn’t even realize she’d fallen in love. Sergei turned out to be a caring and thoughtful man, different from how he was described at work.
A year later, they were married. The ceremony, simple and intimate, took place in the same country house.
Anna moved in with Sergei, who gave her complete freedom to organize their home.
“Now it’s your house too,” he said. “Do what you want.”
Anna became passionate about gardening. She’d never had that opportunity before. Now roses, peonies, and lilies bloomed beneath her windows.
The house was enriched with a large library. Sergei encouraged his wife’s passion for books and helped her create a collection of rare texts. Anna finally made her dreams come true.
In the evenings, the family gathered on the terrace. Dinners took place in a warm and serene atmosphere. Viktor Semenovich became an integral part of that small family.
Anna and her dream became very close. They often worked together in the garden or sat on the bench watching the sunset. A silent understanding developed between them.
“You know, Anetchka,” Viktor told her one day, “I’m grateful to fate for that day in the park. You’ve given my son and me new happiness.”
Anna often recalled that chance encounter. The icy wind, the disoriented old man, her decision to stop… Everything changed that day.
A small gesture of kindness had transformed her life. Now she knew that sometimes everything begins with a simple act of humanity.
