That morning, like every morning for years, I was begging at the parking entrance of the Plaza Mayor. It is Christmas Eve. Came to my mind memories of my childhood, when on Christmas my father took my sister and me by the hand, and we walked the stalls scattered around the square showing all kinds of toys. Upon returning home my mother received us with open arms, it filled us with kisses and made us feel great. How different my life now!
Someone broke into my thoughts and dropped a coin in the blanket with which I protected against cold. I thanked him for the gesture at him and he said something I did not understand.
Since the previous day he had been unable to eat anything, and suddenly I started to feel sick. A feeling of dizziness forced me to lie down on the blanket. I do not know how long I was unconscious. Then I heard distant siren of the ambulance and someone grabbed my arm. I do not remember anything else.
When I regained consciousness in a hospital bed I found a deep blue eyes watching me with concern.
- How are you?
- Where I am?
- They have brought you here in an ambulance. It is the Doce de Octubre Hospital.
You have fainted.
- I feel good, but it hurts a little head.
I'm Angela, her nurse. Now rest, please. In a few minutes the doctor will come to see you.
After a while, which it seemed to me endless, Angela came accompanied by the doctor.
- The results of the tests reveal nothing abnormal. Only it is anemia.
Since when do not eat?
- A couple of days ago someone bought to me a sandwich and fruit.
- You should go to a shelter. There could eat better and surely someone take care of you.
- Thank you very much doctor. Sometimes I go to the soup kitchen of the Sisters of Charity in Street Martinez Campos, but after a while I always come back to the Plaza Mayor.
The doctor greeted me and left. It was noon. I was lonely and dejected. I wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible, although I found consolation with people who is attending me. Consolation, shelter, something to protect me from my own existence.
Shortly after Angela came very determined and she said:
- You will be discharged. Today is Christmas Eve. You want to come home for dinner?
I could not hold back tears. Gesturing I said yes. In recent years he had not had anyone with whom to be on a night so endearing.
- Thank you. I do not want to disturb. You have family and they will not want to share tonight with an stranger.
- I'm alone. My husband died in a car accident and I do not have anyone, so since it happened, I have to pass Christmas alone.
We dined at home. Angela was an exceptional cook. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Table with tablecloth, wine glasses to enjoy wine and exquisite dishes I will always remember. She began to tell the story of her life, the tragic moments of the death of her husband and about how lucky he was to exercise the vocation of his life in the hospital.
On Christmas Day I got up after having been fortunate enough to sleep in a bed with clean sheets. After breakfast, Angela asked me:
- Do you want us to attend Mass?
- Yes, but I do not wear appropriate clothing to enter the church.
- I have suits in the closet Alberto, my husband. I am unable to destroy them. He was high like you. Do you want to try on some of them?
He left and returned with several suits, underwear, shoes ....
I tried on a suit, and it seemed made for me.
- You look good. If you want, I can prepare these costumes and put them in a small suitcase. I am sure Alberto would be glad that you can use them.
We went to Mass and out she told me:
- Today we will celebrate that we met each other and I'd like to invite you to eat in a good restaurant.
We enjoyed a nice chat after lunch. The conversation revolved around people like me who are homeless, but also told me about the joy of living, and helping others. Already getting dark when we returned home.
- Would you help me in the kitchen to prepare a nice dinner?
- Angela, I know not help in the kitchen.
- Do not worry. It is very easy. You help me to chop onions, garlic and parsley. With these three ingredients we can truly cook prodigious dishes.
The dinner was frugal but delicious. I thanked him for everything he was doing for me. And when I was alone in my room I knelt down and prayed for the two days that he had been lucky to meet an angel.
Day 26 I woke up in a hospital bed. I rang the bell and immediately several nurses were presented.
- Please, can you tell Angela I am here? I do not know why I'm here.
- I am sorry, but there is no nurse to call Angela.
- You are in the Hospital October 12?
-If. From the day 24. You fainted, and you have been in a coma.
- It's not possible. I was discharged on 24 and I've been with a nurse who works at this hospital since that day.
-I am sorry. You've been in a coma since Christmas Eve until now. It has been feared for his life. He suffered a heart attack that fortunately had no consequences.
It was not possible. There had to be some mistake. Angela made me the gift of living a happy Christmas and I wanted to believe that those days had not existed.
I stayed for several days. When I was discharged, someone told me that I had left a small suitcase. It was into my locker .... It was the suitcase with Alberto's suits that Angela had prepared me.
I left the hospital shocked and amazed.
I returned to my corner of the parking entrance of the Plaza Mayor, and I couldn't thinking about the miracle of Angela. We never used the familiar tú form of address, nor do I revealed her my name.
Someone broke into my thoughts and dropped a coin in the blanket with which I protected against cold. I thanked him for the gesture at him and he said something I did not understand.
Since the previous day he had been unable to eat anything, and suddenly I started to feel sick. A feeling of dizziness forced me to lie down on the blanket. I do not know how long I was unconscious. Then I heard distant siren of the ambulance and someone grabbed my arm. I do not remember anything else.
When I regained consciousness in a hospital bed I found a deep blue eyes watching me with concern.
- How are you?
- Where I am?
- They have brought you here in an ambulance. It is the Doce de Octubre Hospital.
You have fainted.
- I feel good, but it hurts a little head.
I'm Angela, her nurse. Now rest, please. In a few minutes the doctor will come to see you.
After a while, which it seemed to me endless, Angela came accompanied by the doctor.
- The results of the tests reveal nothing abnormal. Only it is anemia.
Since when do not eat?
- A couple of days ago someone bought to me a sandwich and fruit.
- You should go to a shelter. There could eat better and surely someone take care of you.
- Thank you very much doctor. Sometimes I go to the soup kitchen of the Sisters of Charity in Street Martinez Campos, but after a while I always come back to the Plaza Mayor.
The doctor greeted me and left. It was noon. I was lonely and dejected. I wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible, although I found consolation with people who is attending me. Consolation, shelter, something to protect me from my own existence.
Shortly after Angela came very determined and she said:
- You will be discharged. Today is Christmas Eve. You want to come home for dinner?
I could not hold back tears. Gesturing I said yes. In recent years he had not had anyone with whom to be on a night so endearing.
- Thank you. I do not want to disturb. You have family and they will not want to share tonight with an stranger.
- I'm alone. My husband died in a car accident and I do not have anyone, so since it happened, I have to pass Christmas alone.
We dined at home. Angela was an exceptional cook. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Table with tablecloth, wine glasses to enjoy wine and exquisite dishes I will always remember. She began to tell the story of her life, the tragic moments of the death of her husband and about how lucky he was to exercise the vocation of his life in the hospital.
On Christmas Day I got up after having been fortunate enough to sleep in a bed with clean sheets. After breakfast, Angela asked me:
- Do you want us to attend Mass?
- Yes, but I do not wear appropriate clothing to enter the church.
- I have suits in the closet Alberto, my husband. I am unable to destroy them. He was high like you. Do you want to try on some of them?
He left and returned with several suits, underwear, shoes ....
I tried on a suit, and it seemed made for me.
- You look good. If you want, I can prepare these costumes and put them in a small suitcase. I am sure Alberto would be glad that you can use them.
We went to Mass and out she told me:
- Today we will celebrate that we met each other and I'd like to invite you to eat in a good restaurant.
We enjoyed a nice chat after lunch. The conversation revolved around people like me who are homeless, but also told me about the joy of living, and helping others. Already getting dark when we returned home.
- Would you help me in the kitchen to prepare a nice dinner?
- Angela, I know not help in the kitchen.
- Do not worry. It is very easy. You help me to chop onions, garlic and parsley. With these three ingredients we can truly cook prodigious dishes.
The dinner was frugal but delicious. I thanked him for everything he was doing for me. And when I was alone in my room I knelt down and prayed for the two days that he had been lucky to meet an angel.
Day 26 I woke up in a hospital bed. I rang the bell and immediately several nurses were presented.
- Please, can you tell Angela I am here? I do not know why I'm here.
- I am sorry, but there is no nurse to call Angela.
- You are in the Hospital October 12?
-If. From the day 24. You fainted, and you have been in a coma.
- It's not possible. I was discharged on 24 and I've been with a nurse who works at this hospital since that day.
-I am sorry. You've been in a coma since Christmas Eve until now. It has been feared for his life. He suffered a heart attack that fortunately had no consequences.
It was not possible. There had to be some mistake. Angela made me the gift of living a happy Christmas and I wanted to believe that those days had not existed.
I stayed for several days. When I was discharged, someone told me that I had left a small suitcase. It was into my locker .... It was the suitcase with Alberto's suits that Angela had prepared me.
I left the hospital shocked and amazed.
I returned to my corner of the parking entrance of the Plaza Mayor, and I couldn't thinking about the miracle of Angela. We never used the familiar tú form of address, nor do I revealed her my name.
