01/15/2025
LITTLE GIRL STOPPED ME ON THE STREET AND SAID, "YOUR PICTURE IS IN MY MOM'S WALLET!" — WHEN I SAW HER MOM, I ONLY MANAGED TO SAY, "HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?"
I arrived in a small seaside town to relax. My sister insisted it was the perfect spot—beautiful beaches, great for surfing, and never too crowded.
On a morning run, I was stopped by a small girl in one of the quiet streets.
"Mister, wait! Mister! I know you!" she called, running up to me. She couldn't have been more than eight years old. Before I could react, she grabbed my hand.
"Mister, come with me! To my mom! Come on!"
Stunned and uncomfortable, I gently pulled my hand free. "Wait, little girl! What's your name, and how do you know me?"
She looked me straight in the eye. "MY NAME'S MIRANDA! YOUR PICTURE IS IN MY MOM'S WALLET! I SEE IT ALL THE TIME!"
Her words left me baffled. "What’s your mom's name?"
"Julia!" she exclaimed.
I thought about all the Julias I'd ever met but couldn't recall anyone who mattered. “Come on!” she insisted, pulling me along.
I agreed, following her to a neat little house. She opened the door, dashed inside, and shouted, "MOM! MOM! HE'S HERE! THE MAN FROM YOUR WALLET!"
I stood awkwardly in the hallway until she returned, holding her mother's hand. The woman froze, her hand covering her mouth, her face pale.
When I saw her, she began to cry. I stared, speechless. Then she lowered her hand, and my heart sank.
"What? How is this possible?" was all I could say.