Five years ago a Boston missed connection went viral. Not because it was funny. Not because of anyone famous. But because it was a beautifully written and gut-wrenching story of immense sadness, redemption, and magic. A Boston man penned the Craigslist advertisement in 2015, titling its lengthy contents «I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972.» The flair for the poetic doesn’t end there.

What follows is a redemption arc that we thought only occurred in movies and romance novels. A chance meeting that left a suicidal veteran with hope for the first time in a long time. It’s a touching read, and we highly recommend you start it prepared: armed with tissues, waterproof mascara, and a whole lot of love for all the people around you.