Homeless Boy Finds Millionaire’s Wallet, Nearly Faints Seeing Photo of Himself in It — Story of the Day

A poor homeless teenager is terrified when he finds his photo in a millionaire's lost wallet. He looks for answers and discovers a dark, tear-jerking chapter of his late father's past.

Tyler, 13, panted as he kept walking, his destination still unclear and cloudy. "Should I go back to the shelter? No, this was not how dad wanted me to live," he thought as he loitered under the streetlight, exhausted and hungry.

After his dad's untimely death, Tyler had nobody to take him in and was sent to a foster home not far from town. He tried his best to cope with the loss and adapt to his new living conditions but could not find his spot. Tyler didn't like living with the other children and felt caged.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

One night, when everybody was fast asleep, Tyler fled the foster home in search of freedom. But fate led him on a different path where something else was in store for him...

"Hey, wake up, man. Hey, you alright?" Tyler heard a faint voice call out to him. He rose to a silhouette of three teenage boys flocking around him, blocking the sunbeam.

"Here, drink some water," one of the boys offered.

"Hey, thanks, pal. I think I passed out last night."

After learning Tyler was hungry, orphaned, and homeless, the boys collected their money and bought him breakfast. They then offered him to join their gang and showed Tyler his spot in a mall's parking lot where they usually spent the night.

"This is where we sleep. You can stay with us if you want!"

Tyler, who thought he had nobody to love him, found some hope and started living with the homeless teenagers. Deep inside, he craved family and missed his father. As days passed, Tyler began working odd gigs for a living, like washing cars, cleaning restaurant windows, and even helping people carry their bags home.

On one such day, he returned much earlier to his spot in the parking lot to rest. Tyler had a long day at work and started making his bed using old cardboard when something under the pillar drew his attention.

Curious, Tyler marched to the spot and found a wallet stashed with wads of cash, platinum cards, and checks with transactions worth millions. But what captivated and alarmed him was his photo in the wallet. Tyler nearly fainted because he couldn't understand how the rich person who had lost their wallet had his picture.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash

Who is this guy, and how did he get my photo, wondered Tyler as he set out the next day, looking for answers.

The following day after his friends left, Tyler took the wallet and visited the address he had found on a visiting card. Though he could have easily stolen the money, Tyler did not do it as he reflected on his late dad Jason's words:

Tyler marched to the office to find a man named Johnson, also called Mr. Miller, and return the wallet to him. He anticipated a reward for his honesty and wanted to find out why his photo was in the wallet but was immediately stopped by the security guard.

"I want to meet Mr. Miller," he told the guard, who quickly noticed and recognized his boss's wallet in Tyler's hand.

"You little thief. How dare you steal my boss's wallet?"

"Hey, no, you've got me wrong. I found this wallet yesterday in the parking lot outside the mall."

"Don't lie, you little creep. Give me the wallet and tell me your address, or I'll hand you to the cops."

Fearing the worst, Tyler told the guard that he lived in the foster home. He did not want his friends to get into trouble. He assumed the guy would let him go, but to his surprise, the guard immediately called a man and sent Tyler away with him to the foster home.

The caretakers were relieved after seeing Tyler again. They took him in and counseled him not to run away, and although Tyler was in a safe place, he did not like it. He felt captive and waited for another chance to escape when a rich man in an expensive suit showed up two days later.

It was Mr. Miller, the millionaire who had lost his wallet with Tyler's photo in it.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

Johnson had learned about the honest boy who'd returned his wallet and had visited the foster home to thank him personally, guessing little that the boy was a link to his painful past.

Tyler entered the visiting room and was stunned to see a rich man waiting to meet him. He was told the visitor was the wallet's owner. As soon as Johnson saw Tyler, he was terrified.

"TYLER, IS THAT YOU??" he exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, I'm Tyler, and I returned your wallet a few days ago."

"Tyler, my boy, how are you?"

Tyler was puzzled and could not recognize Johnson.

"I saw my photo in your wallet. I don't know you, and how did you get my picture?"

Johnson sat back, tears streaming down his eyes as he confessed a truth Tyler had never known.

"Your dad Jason and I were best friends since childhood," Johnson began. "We went to the same college and lived the best days of our lives."

"But I didn't know Jason would fall in love with the same woman I had a crush on. I dreamed of a life with your mom, but everything was ruined when I saw her accepting his proposal on Valentine's Day. Your dad and I fought and parted ways after he chose your mom over me. I moved out of the city and never contacted Jason again. But many years later, I received a letter from your dad..."

"A letter??"

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay

"Yes, it was Jason's last letter. He told me he was bankrupt and had lost his wife a few years ago. He said he was sick and bedridden and asked me to take care of his only son if something happened to him. Your dad even sent me your photo with the caption—Tyler is a gem. Please take care of him after I'm gone—at the back."

Tyler broke down into tears.

"But I never saw you at my dad's funeral. I don't remember seeing you there. Why didn't you come?"

At this point, Johnson could not hide the truth. He pressed his lips tight and began to tell further.

"I ignored your dad and his letter because I was busy with work. I was starting a new unit and didn't want to waste my time and money on my friend who snatched my love from me. I threw the letter with your photo but could not be peaceful."

Johnson embraced a teary-eyed and heartbroken Tyler, promising to return for him. He began the necessary paperwork and adopted Tyler three months later. Johnson realized that family and friends are more important than money and made every effort to make up for his ignorance toward his best friend.

Ultimately, Tyler moved in with his adoptive dad and started living the life of his dreams under the love and care of his new family.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Getty Images

What can we learn from this story?

• No amount of money can make up for the love and care you get from your family and friends. Due to anger and his busy schedule, Johnson ignored his late friend's letter. But after losing his friend, he realized that no amount of money could bring that love back.
• Do not hold onto grudges; They make you weak and bitter. Instead, forgive others because only love and forgiveness make you strong. Johnson kept holding onto his resentment and regretted it after losing his best friend.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

A little boy desperate to save his adoptive mom's life raises money for her medical bills. One day, a stranger's unexpected act of kindness turns his life around. Click here to read the full story.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.