Hazel already had quite a rough day and getting home to her bed was top in the order of her to do list. Today always messed up her emotions and she was feeling quite emotional as she headed home.
As she tried to match the fast pace of the moving crowd, she felt someone hit her on the side and was instantly relieved of her purse. Before she could raise an alarm, the thief had blended into the sea of faces.
She couldn't decide the exact emotion coursing through her veins, whether surprise, shock or anger. Of all the things that could've been stolen from her, it had to be the purse containing the most important thing in her life.
Other things she could replace with time, but there was one that no amount of money could replace. Gathering her wits, she dialed 911 to make a report even though the tight knot in her stomach told her it was a futile venture.
It wasn't until she cut the call before Hazel realized tears were streaming down her face.
Hazel walked in to find her mum busy in the kitchen making dinner. Hazel always wondered how her mother ever found the strength to even function on such a sad day.
Mistaking the sniffling sound she heard to be because of the day's significance, Mrs Williams turned ready to console her daughter. But immediately Mrs Williams spotted Hazel's disheveled look, she knew something else was at play.
"Darling, what's the matter?"
'Mumm, my purse got jacked on my way home" Hazel replied
'It's fine dear, we'll just report it to the police"
'It's not fine mum. It was in the stolen purse"
Mrs Williams paled as the significance of Hazel's words hit her. They both knew which it she was referring to and just how important that particular it was in their lives.
Hazel was still asleep when she heard the knock outside her bedroom door, still contemplating whether to ignore it she heard her mum call out her name.
Struggling out of bed, she dragged herself to the door and opened it.
"What's the matter mum" Hazel asked
It had been a long night and she'd only bee able to fall asleep quite late into the night.
"Young lady, it's good morning mum to you. Go wash your face someone is here to see you" Mrs Williams replied as she walked away
Wondering who on earth was so important that her mum had to wake her this early in the morning, particularly after the incident from the previous night. Hazel rushed to the bathroom to wash her face.
It turned out to be a complete stranger, but one who was miraculously holding her stolen purse. Forgetting her manners, she grabbed the purse from him spilling the contents inside.
'It's all intact ma'am, nothing is missing" said the stranger"
"And how are you sure of that?"
The stranger was looking embarrassed and somehow could meet her eyes
'Eerrm I apologise ma'am, I was actually the one who stole your purse yesterday"
After a few minutes of curses and threats using some of the most colorful words she'd never realized were in present in her vocabulary, Hazel finally calmed down just enough to listen to Jack's story, at least that was what he claimed his name was.
Apparently Jack had found the it amongst the items in the purse and had been moved by it's contents to the point where he decided to return the purse to the owner. Luckily Hazel's ID with her address was also in the purse, which was how he traced her home.
As Hazel struggled with her emotions, she looked down at her hands holding it. The last letter her dying father had written to her before he passed away due to cancer.
Every year on the day he died, she always spent the whole day at his grave trying to bring up fond memories of him.
She'd been on her way back home from the cemetery when Jack had stolen her purse and the letter inside.
It was the most important thing in her life and even though she knew the words by heart, Hazel opened the letter to read her father's words.
My Beautiful Nutcase
(Her Dad loved to call her that because he claimed she was stubborn, a play at the word Hazelnut)
Trying to use words cannot do justice to how much you mean to me. From the very first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the most beautiful creature in the whole universe.
This is perhaps the most difficult thing I've ever had to do and I know this because winning an argument against you and your mum has been my second hardest.
(It was just like her dad to sneak in a joke when saying something serious)
You and your mum are the best thing to ever happen to me and I wouldn't change any of the wonderful memories we've shared so far. I would give everything in the world to stay with my family, watch you grow, see you smile everyday and support you always.
I know how much of a fight we've all put into this battle, but what matters is knowing that we all gave it our best. I know how much of a fighter you are, so I'm trusting you to take care of mummy.
Always remember that Daddy loves you馃.
Hazel didn't realize she was crying until her mum was holding her, in tears also.
This man meant so much to them and his words had prompted even a street thief to bring back her purse to her.
She would always treasure his memory and his words as they would forever be embedded in her heart.