A young man sat near a bench in the park, hoping to collect some change from the people passing by. After leaving his family home, he struggled to find a direction in life and a job, leading him to wander the streets. He didn’t envision a mature, independent life for himself. The meager earnings he gathered were just enough to survive, and he didn’t aspire to more. With only a few coins in his pocket, he continued sitting, hoping to collect more.
A well-dressed older man walked through the park and sat directly across from the young man on the bench. He looked at him and asked, “Why are you sitting here?” The young man glanced around, thinking the question wasn’t directed at him. He wasn’t used to people talking to him; usually, they avoided him with looks of rejection and disdain. “I don’t know,” he replied.
“What is your goal and the meaning of life?” the well-dressed man asked. Again, the young man answered, “I don’t know.” The older man continued, “A ship without a destination will wander on the waves until it crashes into the rocks. If you have no purpose in life, you’ll keep drifting until you finally crash against yourself. Everyone must have a sense of purpose and meaning in life,” he said, then fell silent.
The young man continued silently looking at him. Suddenly, the older man started gasping for breath, searching for something in his pocket. Concerned, the young man asked if he needed help. “Water,” the older man whispered. The young man, not hearing it clearly, ran to the nearest kiosk. Using all the coins he had collected, he paid for a bottle of water and hurried back. “Here, take it,” he said to the older man.
The man saw the desperation in the young man’s eyes and quickly grabbed the water. The young man observed the man struggling to breathe and sought help. Unfortunately, nobody nearby heard him. The young man ran back to the kiosk, urging the cashier to call an ambulance. Waiting until the paramedics arrived and ensuring the man was loaded into the ambulance, the young man went on his way.
Three months later, winter arrived, making life even more challenging for the homeless. The young man roamed the streets, trying to keep warm. Exhausted, he barely made it to a bench next to a large office building and lay down. Seeing a security guard approaching, he anticipated the usual harassment. However, the owner of the office building came out, recognized the young man, and instructed the security guard to help him into his car.
The young man was taken to a guest room in the building. Arcadiy Ivanovich, the building owner, arranged for his care and left. The young man had never slept so soundly. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a warm, comfortable bed, in a large, spacious room.
