It was April 6, 2024, it must have been around 1:30 p.m. when my doorbell rang with unusual intensity. DHL, Hermes,...? I hadn't ordered anything. I heard the desperate voice of my 96-year-old neighbor over the intercom. She asked me to open the door for her so that she could get to her spare key in the cellar. The reason for her desperation? She had left her handbag at a streetcar stop on the way from the cemetery where she had visited her late husband's grave. Everything was in it: ID, debit card, apartment keys, glasses and even her smartphone. A return to the tram stop brought no hope; the bag had disappeared.
When I helped her carry her shopping bag upstairs, she told me the whole story. Her family was busy moving house, but despite her own predicament, she thought to ask them for help to cancel her bank card. I offered to help, took care of the blocking hotline and made sure that at least her money was safe.
While we talked about what else needed to be done - apply for a new debit card, change the lock, reapply for ID, order new glasses - I encouraged her not to give up hope. The world is full of good people, and maybe someone would find the bag and hand it in.
After I had gone back to my apartment, I heard loud, low voices in the house at some point. Normally this wouldn't interest me, but this time it was different. I went into the stairwell and saw two burly men talking to my neighbor. Her lost bag was hanging over her shoulder.
The joy on her face was indescribable. These men, inspectors from the company Götz, who work for Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG, had seen the bag hanging at a remote stop. Since no one was around and the stop is rather remote, they looked inside, spotted my neighbor's ID and decided to stop by. A truly happy ending.
This story is a wonderful example of humanity and shows that even in moments of despair and carelessness, a ray of hope is possible. It reminds us that the world is full of good people who are willing to help in difficult times. Such an experience not only strengthens faith in humanity, but also leaves a deep impression of gratitude and connectedness within a community.
