Is there anything worse than losing your wallet?
As a perpetually absent-minded person, I’ve lost my wallet more times than I’d like to admit— and when your heart skips a beat upon the realization, it’s the worst feeling in the world.
That’s what one young father experienced these past holidays after leaving his bag at a Christmas display in Long Beach.
The man, who prefers to remain unnamed, had been visiting a Christmas light display when he left his bag on the ground.
Inside the bag were his wife’s wallet and $5,000 in cash.
The man and his family are from Vietnam and were only vacationing in the U.S.
“I thought, ‘How can I get back to my country? How can I pay my tuition? My rent?”‘ he told CBS Los Angeles.
Luckily, however, two Good Samaritans saved the day.
It turns out a young couple had been visiting the same Christmas display. Gabriel Ruiz and Gabriela Jauregui were taking in the light show when “we turn around [and] there’s a backpack on the seat,” she explained.
Hoping the owner would return, the couple sat around and waited. When they realized the person wasn’t coming back, they looked in the bag to find some I.D. but didn’t have much luck. “The names are in Vietnamese and everything and no address on the passports,” said Jauregui.
“We stayed up all night looking for them on Facebook.”
Meanwhile, by this point, the man had realized he lost the bag and was growing increasingly frantic. He went back to search the area and even posted signs— but he was dead out of luck.
Luckily, later into the night, the couple discovered a secret compartment in the bag.
“There was a bunch of papers with all the information we needed,” said Jauregui. “Phone number, a name, an address.” Happy they had identified the owner, the couple finally went to bed and planned to contact him the next day.
Upon contacting the man, they made him describe the bag to make sure they had the right person. When all his information checked out, they met to return the items. “[We’re] So happy were able to find you,” the young woman told him.
“All I can say is thank you,” he replied.
In today’s society, it’s great to hear stories of people living honestly and doing well.
Too often we hear of robberies, violence, and misery, with no mention of the good. This story is a refreshing reminder there’s still compassion and honesty in this world:
“Honestly so great seeing the humanity in people.”
“Honesty is priceless.”
“That’s right. Hearts of gold.”
Hear the heartwarming story below!
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