At the entrance to the shop, she took a basket and quickly made her way among the shelves for the things she needed. She noticed that something was on the floor by one of the shelves. At first, she thought it was just a piece of paper, so she didn't pay much attention to it. However, when she got closer to it, she realised it was a folded twenty-euro note.
She bent down and picked it up. She looked around, but there was no one nearby looking for it. She didn't feel it was right just to take the money. First, she asked the people nearby if anyone might have dropped it.
She went up to the first person: »Excuse me, have you perhaps lost a twenty-euro note? I found it on the floor.«
The man looked at him and shook his head. »No, it's not mine. You keep it,« he said and walked on.
Martina also asked the lady who was packing items into her basket: »Is it perhaps yours?«
»No, no. If you found it, it's yours now,« she replied to her.
She was by no means satisfied with these answers. She still had the feeling that this money belonged to someone who was in the shop. Perhaps it was money for lunch, medicine or for things that someone really needed.
When she had finished shopping, she made her way towards the till. That was when she noticed an elderly lady standing a little way from the till. She was holding a basket containing a few basic groceries. She looked very confused. She kept glancing at the basket, then at her handbag, and back down at the floor again.
Martina watched the woman for a few moments, then approached her.
»Madam, can I help you?« she asked her.
The elderly lady looked at her with a sad expression on her face.
»I think I've lost my money,« she replied quietly. »I had twenty euros. I wanted to pay for what I have in my basket with them, and now I can't find them anywhere.«
Martina's heart gave a leap. She looked at the banknote she was holding in her hand.
»Was that a twenty-euro note?«
The lady nodded. Her eyes filled with tears: »Yes. That was my only money for today. I don't know how it could have fallen out of my bag.«
Martina handed her a banknote immediately: »I think this one is yours.«
The lady just looked at the banknote for a few moments, and then at Martina. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
»That's my money,« she said. »Thank you very much. I thought I'd never find it again.«
Martina smiled: »Not at all. It just felt right to return it.«
An elderly lady took her by the hand: »You know, today you've given back to me much more than just twenty euros. You've also given me back my faith that people are still good and honest.«
At these words, Martina felt a warmth in her heart. She thought of all the people who had previously told her to keep the money. She could have listened to them, but she would have known she hadn't done the right thing.
As she was leaving the shop, she realised she felt much better than she would have if she had bought something for herself with that money. A small, honest deed can mean the world to someone.
Maja Grošelj, 11 August 2026
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