It's heartwarming when people extend help to those in need, but Lucy took it to a whole new level. Over the course of the year, she had developed a close friendship with a homeless man named Mark.
Their friendship had grown so deep that against the dismay of her friends and family, Lucy even invited Mark to her wedding. Little did she know, Mark was planning the surprise of a lifetime.
Planning His SurpriseFor the past few days, Mark had been busy planning a grand surprise for Lucy and her fiance, Jack. There was a part of his life that he had never shared with anyone before, not even Lucy, one of his few friends.
He intended to reveal it on their special day. To his surprise, no one had a clue.
The Wedding DayThe wedding day arrived, and Mark was incredibly nervous. He hoped that everyone would appreciate his grand surprise. He knew, from experience, how easily things could go wrong. Even his surprise could falter.
After Lucy and Jack exchanged their vows and were pronounced husband and wife, it was finally Mark's turn to grab the microphone.
A Different Side of HimEverything happened in a blur. Lucy had no idea what was happening. Within seconds, she saw a side of Mark she had never seen before. She would never look at him the same way again.
But what was Mark planning at the wedding? Why had he kept a part of his past hidden from Lucy? And why was Lucy so shocked? To find out, we need to go back in time.
Taking Care of EveryoneHelping those in need had always been a significant concern for Lucy. She had a particular passion for an issue that brought increasing misery to people year after year homelessness.
Lucy often volunteered at the local animal shelter and did her best to ensure that the people living on the streets in her neighborhood were taken care of.
She Knew the StruggleLucy herself didn't have much money, so she understood how tough the battle for survival could be. One day, as she was walking home from work, she noticed a man sitting on the sidewalk. He held a sign that read, "homeless and hungry."
Without hesitation, Lucy approached him and asked how she could help. She explained that she worked at a homeless shelter and could arrange a place for him.
MarkThe man introduced himself as Mark and looked at her with grateful eyes. He accepted her offer, revealing that he hadn't eaten in two days.
It broke Lucy's heart. When she asked if he needed anything else besides food, perhaps a place to sleep, he simply replied a blanket, although it was evident that he needed more to survive.
Learning More about MarkLucy provided Mark with a warm meal, and they sat together on the curb to eat. As they talked, Lucy learned more about Mark's story.
He had lost his job and couldn't afford to pay rent, resulting in the eviction from his apartment. With nowhere else to turn, he ended up on the streets.
Close FriendsHe had been living on the streets for several months, struggling to survive. During that time, Lucy and Mark became close friends. She often brought him food and water.
They would sit on the curb together for hours, talking. Despite his circumstances, Mark had a kind and gentle soul, and Lucy was drawn to him.
To Lucy, Mark was more than just a homeless person. He was a person with hopes and dreams, just like anyone else. Money didn't make people better or worse than others in her eyes.
Then one day, something she had been waiting for for years happened to Lucy: her boyfriend Jack proposed to her. She was overjoyed and couldn't wait to share the news with Mark.
A Perfect ProposalJack's proposal had been beautiful and more than Lucy could have ever dreamed of. They had gone on a weekend getaway, hiking in the mountains.
As they wandered through the mountains, they stayed in a romantic cottage, and it was there that Jack proposed to Lucy. It was truly perfect, and Lucy immediately said yes without any hesitation.
A True FriendshipWhen Lucy returned home, she immediately sought out Mark, and his reaction to the news was nothing but kind. When she told him about the engagement, Mark was genuinely happy for her.
"You deserve all the happiness in the world," he said. They embraced, and Lucy felt that Mark truly rejoiced for her. He didn't see her as someone who had it better than him; he looked beyond that. Instead, he saw Lucy for who she was.
Planning the WeddingAs Lucy and Jack began planning their wedding, they knew they wanted to do something special for Mark. He had become a valuable friend to Lucy over the past few months.
They wanted Mark to be a part of their special day, not just as a guest but as someone who played an important role in the ceremony. And Lucy knew exactly how she would achieve that.
A Special TaskIn the weeks leading up to the wedding, Lucy and Jack invited Mark to be their officiant. Mark was stunned. "Me?" he said. "Are you sure?" Lucy and Jack smiled and nodded.
"We're sure," Lucy said, and Mark stood beside her, beaming with joy. "You've become such an important part of our lives, and we can't imagine anyone better to marry us."
He Takes His Role SeriouslyMark felt a lump forming in his throat. He never expected to be a part of something so special. "It would be an honor," he finally said, finding his voice again.
As the wedding day drew closer, Mark rehearsed his lines over and over, making sure he memorized everything. He wanted to do a good job and make Lucy and Jack proud.
A Secret Part of HimAt this point, Lucy and Jack still had no idea that Mark wanted to express his gratitude in an entirely unexpected way and had something very special planned for their wedding day.
There was a part of his life that he hadn't shared with them yet, and he thought their wedding day would be the perfect time to reveal it. But his surprise required some planning.
A Big SurpriseMark now had to create the surprise of a lifetime. And that was no easy task in his situation. Being homeless, it was challenging for him to find the right resources.
If he needed to look up something, he had to go to a public library, and sometimes they wouldn't even let him in. But Mark was determined to make it work.
A Helpful LibrarianHe decided to openly seek help and befriend a librarian. And with his naturally friendly and charismatic character, his plan quickly paid off.
She let him use the computer for as long as he wanted and even lent him a few books. Mark handled the books very carefully, only taking them outside to read in the sun.
Heading in the Right DirectionAfter a few days of research, Mark had gathered enough information. He thanked the librarian for her kindness and returned all his books. Then, he went to a nearby park and sat on a bench.
His surprise was far from complete, but a start had been made and at least everything was heading in the right direction. He was confident that Lucy and Jack would love it.
A Grand GestureMark spent the next few days jotting down his thoughts in his notebook and writing down ideas for the big surprise he had planned for Lucy and Jack's wedding.
He wanted to do something truly special for the couple. Something that would show them how much their friendship meant to him. It was a grand gesture, something they would never expect. But then everything took a different turn.
Terrifying ImagesPeter agreed to the tests, and while they waited for the results, the doctor, who still hadn't found anything helpful, posted some pictures of Peter's thumb on a medical forum.
He hoped that another doctor might have seen something similar before. However, it would probably take quite some time before they received a useful response.
Private MessagesPeter decided he needed some fresh air and went to the restroom. During his absence, the doctor received a private message from the forum. He hadn't anticipated this so quickly.
He eagerly opened it, hoping it was the answer he had been searching for. And luckily, it was! But it was also terrible, terrible news, and everything had to change quickly.
A Major ProblemAnother doctor had indeed seen this condition before and explained to Peter's doctor that if he didn't act soon, it could become a significant problem for everyone, including Peter.
The doctor read the message over and over again. He researched his colleague's information and realized that he really had to act fast if this other doctor was right.
ResultsPeter's doctor awaited the results, which arrived almost immediately after reading the forum message. It confirmed what he had just read in the message.
He now had the results in black and white, and it shook him to the core. The other doctor had been right. Peter's doctor left his practice, and soon everything was turned upside down.
Empty OfficePeter returned from the bathroom. His thumb didn't look good at all. The holes were spreading to the rest of his hand. He was even more scared now than before.
But he knew he had to show it to the doctor. There was nothing dumber than lying to your own doctor. But there was a problem. The doctor wasn't in his office when Peter returned. What should he do?
Locked InPeter was contemplating what to do when he heard something behind him. The door he had just come through was locked from the outside! He was now trapped here.
To make the situation even worse and more frightening, he could hear the doctor telling someone else that he had called the police. What on earth had happened?
QuestionsPeter pleaded for an explanation through the locked door, but no one spoke to him. All the nurses and doctors were talking hectically to each other, ignoring his questions.
He was merely told to remain calm until the police arrived. This was a big shock for Peter. He was in pain, why did they have to call the police now?
A Million ThoughtsThe staff's reaction to his thumb was completely different from what he had expected. He had come to the practice seeking help. He had expected comfort and an explanation.
But everyone was nervous and scared, only adding to his worries. What was so wrong? Was he going to die? A million thoughts raced through his mind. He tried to stay calm, but it became impossible. Peter didn't want to die!
DesperateSoon, these fears turned into anger. Why wasn't anyone talking to him? Without any other idea, Peter began kicking the door. He desperately wanted to get out.
The doctors on the other side shouted at him to stop, but Peter couldn't hear them due to his own commotion. He was determined to escape from this room.
Kicking the DoorAfter a few kicks, the door lock broke, and the door swung open wide. The people on the other side began screaming, and Peter's doctor stepped back. Peter stood there, heavily panting.
Breaking the door had not been easy, and Peter was on the verge of passing out. But he needed answers, and someone had to tell him what was going on.
Stay Back!Peter's doctor ordered his colleagues and the nurses standing with him in the room to flee. To Peter, he said that he had to stay back. He shouldn't come near anyone at the moment.
The fear on his doctor's face revealed everything Peter needed to know about his fate, but Peter was determined. He told them that he wouldn't stay back unless they gave him some answers.
The PoliceBefore his doctor could say anything, three armed officers entered the building and spotted Peter. The doctor pointed at Peter and started screaming, "That's the infected patient!"
All three policemen drew their guns and aimed them cautiously at Peter, who now felt completely weak, powerless, and helpless. What the hell was going on? What was happening to his life?
TerrifiedQuickly raising his hands in the air as the police turned their attention to him, Peter had tears welling up in his eyes, pleading with them to just tell him what was going on.
When the police saw that the holes in Peter's thumb had spread, almost taking up half of his hand now, they told him to stay back.
IsolationOne of the officers calmly explained to Peter that they would tell him everything, but he had to be immediately isolated. Peter recognized the fear on people's faces and agreed to the terms.
However, he firmly told them that he wouldn't hesitate to break another door to get some answers. He was terribly afraid, and no one was telling him anything.
Cleaning UpPeter returned to the doctor's office, and the broken door was temporarily closed behind him. He could see staff members in heavy protective suits and cleaning supplies entering.
The cleaning team began spraying everything with a white foam. The floors, the walls, the door. An employee covered the broken door with thick plastic sheeting. Finally, the doctor approached the door to tell Peter what was happening.
A VirusHis doctor first apologized for not being able to tell Peter immediately what was going on. He, too, had been terrified. Peter's thumb was a serious threat to everyone in his vicinity.
It wasn't every day that a person with a terrible flesh-eating virus walked in and required procedures he had never performed before. He felt terrible, but there was more.
A PlantHe discussed with Peter what he had done the day before. Peter had gone for a hike and then went on a date that evening. Luckily for Peter, the bad date wasn't the cause of all the trouble.
Instead, it was more likely that he had touched an infected plant during his hike. But which one? And where? They had to find the plant before more hikers got infected.
AssistingPeter didn't know what else to tell them. He informed the police and his doctor about the path he had taken and what he had seen. Essentially, everything that could be helpful.
He didn't know what else to do. He focused more on the treatment plan. Could they even treat him? Or would this virus devour his hand?
Panic Ensues as Unidentified Plant Causes Public Health ThreatFortunately for Peter, the hospital had the necessary medication they needed. However, he had to remain isolated for quite a while. The police had been called in due to the need to protect the general public.
They had to talk to Peter about his hike. But when they saw him come out of the isolated room, they panicked because his doctor had panicked. It was a chaotic situation, but there was more to it.
TreatmentThey also had to ensure that no one else got infected. Peter was safely transferred to a better hospital where he could be isolated and receive treatment for the virus.
They had to prevent the virus from devouring his hand. Fortunately, the medication stopped the virus from spreading, and within a few days, it began to resolve the issue. But what about the plant?
Finding the PlantAuthorities had kept everyone away from the trail and conducted an extensive search, leading them to discover a plant that was not native to the area. It was tested and determined to be the cause of Peter's problem.
The plant was uprooted and disposed of. Since then, there have been no more cases, and within a month, Peter's condition significantly improved, making him ready to resume going on dates.