Mireille had just landed a small job, barely two days, nothing easy, but for her it was a victory. What she did not know was that her gesture toward a stranger in the rain was about to change her destiny.
That morning, the sky was dark and the air freezing cold. Heavy rain fell nonstop, making the roads slippery and muddy. Mireille held her little umbrella tightly as she hurried along. She could not afford to arrive late.
As she approached the large crossroads in the neighborhood, she noticed an old woman standing in the rain. She was shivering from the cold, her clothes soaked, her feet bare, with no umbrella, no coat, not even a simple scarf to protect her. She looked lost, frozen under the pounding rain.
Mireille’s heart tightened. She quickly walked over, lifted her umbrella above the old woman’s head, and said gently, “Mama, here, take my umbrella. You’re going to get sick.”
The old woman slowly raised her eyes to her. They looked tired. She replied in a weak voice, “My daughter, I have nowhere to go. I just came from the village. I know no one here.”
Mireille felt a lump form in her throat. She searched her pocket and pulled out the one thousand five hundred CFA francs she had for the day.
“Here, Mama. It’s all I have, but try to find somewhere to shelter.”
But the old woman gently shook her head. “I cannot take what you need for yourself, my child.”
Mireille looked at her for a moment, thought, then smiled. “Then come with me. I’m going to work. You can stay there quietly, at least until the rain stops.”
The old woman’s eyes filled with tears. “May God bless you, my daughter.”
Mireille gently took her hand, and the two of them walked together under the umbrella.
When they arrived at the office, Mireille settled her in a discreet corner near the reception area. She gave her a towel to help dry her clothes a little.
“Do not worry, Mama. I only have a few hours left before my break. As soon as I’m free, I’ll take you home with me for a while.”
“Thank you,” the old woman said.
