For over a week, Marina passed by a homeless man every morning. They greeted each other with friendly smiles, and Marina usually dropped a few coins into his cup.
Then, on a cold winter day, the homeless man asked Marina for a favor: he desperately needed a blanket as the nights were getting cold. Marina didn't hesitate and promised to bring him one. Little did she know, his gratitude would change her life forever.
Open LaterAs a token of appreciation for the warm blanket, the homeless man insisted on giving Marina his bag. Marina wasn't comfortable with this at all.
Not only did she not want to take anything away from the homeless man, but the thought of what could be inside the foul-smelling bag sent shivers down her spine. However, he insisted, and she had no choice but to accept it.
Contacting the PoliceMarina hesitated for a long time before opening the bag. She even considered just throwing it away unopened. But what if the contents were important? Wouldn't it be better to return it to the homeless man?
When Marina finally opened the bag, she turned pale and nearly vomited. One thing was certain: this was a case for the police! But what was inside the bag? And why did the homeless man insist on giving it to Marina, even though it was his only possession?
Starting from the BeginningTo understand this, we have to go back two days. Marina, a 37-year-old teacher, lived on a bustling street in the country's capital. Every morning, she made her way to the nearby subway station to get to work.
For a few weeks now, she had been encountering someone every day. It was a homeless man who stationed himself at the same corner near her metro station every morning.
Friendly SmileFor many weeks, the man greeted Marina with a friendly smile and nod, but never uttered a word. However, on this particular day, he needed something.
He asked Marina if she could spare a moment for him. When she agreed, he shyly requested a blanket. Marina would later look back on this moment with great unease.
The ColdMarina understood his need for the blanket immediately, as winter had arrived and the nights had become bitterly cold. Even during the day, it was frigid outside. Marina was in a rush but decided to promise him a blanket.
She made a firm commitment to bring it to him the next morning. However, she had no idea where to quickly acquire a blanket. If only he had asked for something else.
Forgot the BlanketBut her good intentions didn't help. The next morning, Marina overslept. When she woke up much too late, she was in a rush. It was only when she approached the homeless man's corner that she realized she had forgotten the blanket.
She felt guilty about it but realized she couldn't afford to go back. Then she saw the homeless man impatiently holding a large backpack. Marina should be cautious in this situation.
Tomorrow, I promise!Marina walks past him and apologizes, telling him that she will bring the blanket one day later. She doesn't have time to wait for his response and sprints towards the subway.
She sits on the subway as she begins to feel terrible guilt. If only someone would tell poor Marina that there is no reason to feel bad for this man.
Going backDriven by her guilt, Marina decides not to wait until the next morning to bring the blanket but to go after work today. It would be an extra detour, but she feels miserable.
This way, the homeless man wouldn't have to spend another night in the cold, and she would be forgiven for forgetting it that morning. After work, she rushes home, retrieves the blanket, and goes to the usual spot.
Taking a different approachAs Marina arrives at the corner where she always saw the homeless man, it is already dark. The homeless man is sitting with his back towards Marina on the ground. She approaches him cautiously, and he slowly turns around.
When the homeless man realizes it's Marina and that she brought the promised blanket, he gets up clumsily but with a radiant smile. He grabs the blanket without saying a word.
I have to go now...Marina is glad that she did her part and relieved her heavy conscience. Now she just wants to go back home. The homeless man still doesn't say a word, so Marina says,
"I have to go now, take care!" With that, she turns around and starts her way home. But the homeless man has something else in mind. He wants to reward Marina's kind act.
Two FacesIn a friendly voice, he offers Marina his bag. It's only fair in his opinion. When Marina declines, his expression changes. He says, "Don't you owe me that?
After all, you let me spend another day in this cold." And so, he manages to make Marina accept the bag. Her guilt will bring Marina into great trouble.
A Heavy BagThe bag is surprisingly heavy, and after her long day at work, Marina needs all the energy in the world to drag the bag back to her apartment. Several times, she considered just leaving it somewhere. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally arrives at her warm home and leaves the bag in the hallway. If only she had looked inside the bag right away.
Without further thought about this strange exchange of words, Marina went to bed. She was completely exhausted after this stressful day. Within minutes, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning she got up on time to go back to work. She was already almost out of the house when she saw the bag in the hallway. She was shocked when she discovered a puddle of liquid around the bag! What on earth could that be?!
Searching for the Homeless ManSince she had to leave anyway, her initial reaction was to run to the homeless man and ask him what was in his bag. But when she arrived at the usual spot, he was nowhere to be seen!
Everything was tidy, and if it weren't for a small note he had left behind, you could have thought he had never been sitting there. Without him, the spot felt completely empty.
Folded BlanketInstead of the homeless man, what Marina found was her blanket. It was neatly folded on the ground. Marina was puzzled and started to worry.
She decided to go to work a bit later today so that she had time to think. She hurried back home, and when she arrived, she immediately went to the bag. The moment of truth had come.
Calling the PoliceMarina went down on both knees to open the bag, and when she saw what was inside, she fell to the ground in shock! Even a small scream escaped her mouth, and she wasn't sure what to do.
The homeless man had to be arrested. The sooner, the better! Marina immediately called the police. Her thoughts were racing. She wished she had never engaged in a conversation with the man.
Police ArrivalAfter Marina called her boss and took the day off, she waited for the police officers. Her boss was far from thrilled and scolded her.
After what felt like an eternity, the first police officers arrived. They looked around before closing all the windows and curtains. Then they asked Marina to step away from the bag. What was going on here?
Please take it out of here!Now that the police had made it very clear that the bag, and especially its contents, were highly illegal, Marina pleaded with the officers to finally take the bag out of her apartment.
But the police officers just laughed and said it wouldn't happen! Marina was dismayed. She had called the police hoping for help. Why were they laughing at her now?
Marina decides not to let go easily and chooses to stay close. Restlessly, she walks through the apartment, and eventually she sees the officers gathering.
She decides to get closer and overhears the officers discussing the expected arrival of the responsible officer. The whole situation should be clarified soon.
Long-lost BagMarina realizes that the contents of the bag were something that the police had been searching for a long time. She now understands the police's attitude, but what does she have to do with all of this?
She had stumbled into the whole story by chance. It was her kindness. More specifically, it was her guilt about someone having to sleep outside in this cold.
Searching for the Homeless ManWhile Marina tried to figure out what was going on, some of the officers were instructed to search for the homeless man. They go to his spot near the subway, but they don't find him there.
They manage to gather some information about his whereabouts, and a few hours later, they succeed in arresting him. But he had something to say during his arrest that would surprise everyone.
The Chief Police OfficerMeanwhile, the police operation's leader enters Marina's apartment. He looks at Marina without saying a word and doesn't take his eyes off her for minutes. Marina swallows hard.
He doesn't introduce himself and even refuses to answer when Marina tries to start a conversation. "Oh my God!" Marina thought, "Am I now a suspect at the end?"
Explaining EverythingShe wanted to explain everything: from the man's greetings to the night of the exchange. Finally, the chief officer realizes her innocence and begins to explain the situation about the bag.
The frozen stuffed animal found in the bag was an extinct species and had been reported stolen a long time ago! When it thawed in the warm apartment, it created the puddle of water.
A GiftAs it turned out, the homeless man offered Marina the stuffed animal as a gift. She was the only one who had even looked at him during his time on the streets, and he wanted to repay the favor.
The stuffed animal was returned to the museum from which it had been stolen some time ago, and the homeless man was allowed to spend a few nights in a nice and warm police cell.
Psychiatric EvaluationThe officers quickly realized that the homeless man was severely confused. They wouldn't be able to convict him of the theft. Sending him back out into the cold would have been irresponsible, though.
Clearly, he couldn't take care of himself. A judge ordered his admission to a psychiatric clinic. There, at least, they could ensure he wouldn't freeze. Marina was grateful to learn that someone was now taking care of the poor old man.