The bright sun shone brightly over the grand stone church in the center of town.
Julian adjusted his black bowtie while looking down at his expensive leather shoes.
He felt like the luckiest man in the entire world today.
His beautiful bride Victoria stood beside him in a spotless white lace dress.
Their wealthy guests gathered near the big wooden doors under the blue sky.
Everything was completely perfect for the big afternoon ceremony.
Julian: Today is going to be the absolute best day of our lives.
Victoria: I know, my sweet love, everything looks so wonderfully perfect.
Julian smiled warmly and held her soft hand in his own.
Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from the nearby marble steps.
An old woman dressed in ragged brown clothes walked slowly toward them.
Her worn shoes made a heavy dragging sound against the gray stone pavement.
Victoria pulled her lace wedding skirt back in sudden annoyance.
Victoria: Who let this messy beggar onto the church grounds today?
Julian: Move away from our wedding party right now.
The old woman did not step back or run away in fear.
She kept walking until she stood directly in front of the young couple.
Her face was deeply weathered with lines of hard labor and old sadness.
Yet her eyes were unusually bright as she stared right at Julian.
Mother: I am not here to ask you for any spare pocket money.
Julian: Then leave before I call our private security guards.
The old woman reached into her torn pocket with trembling fingers.
She pulled out a tiny piece of folded paper that looked very worn.
She held it out toward Julian with a gentle and steady hand.
Mother: Please read this short message before you make me leave.
Victoria crossed her arms and let out a very loud sigh.
Victoria: Julian, do not touch that dirty piece of trash paper.
Julian hesitated for a brief moment as he looked into her eyes.
Something about her quiet expression made his heart beat a little faster.
He took the folded paper from her old fingers without saying a word.
The paper felt thin and very soft against his warm skin.
He slowly unfolded it and saw neat handwriting inside.
It said to open the hidden photo inside his favorite phone album.
Julian frowned because he did not understand what that note meant.
Julian: What kind of silly game are you playing with me right now?
Mother: It is no game, my sweet boy, just look at your phone screen.
Julian pulled his dark smartphone from his inner jacket pocket.
He unlocked the screen with his thumb while his heart pounded heavily.
He opened his photo library and scrolled down to the private locked album.
There was only one old image saved inside that hidden folder.
It was a faded black and white picture from many long years ago.
In the picture, a young mother smiled while holding a tiny baby boy.
Julian stared closely at the young mother's smiling face in the picture.
His hands began to shake violently as he looked back up at her.
The old woman stood there with big tears pooling in her sad eyes.
Mother: You used to call me your dear Mom every single day.
Julian: Mom... is it really truly you after all these years?
Victoria gasped very loudly as her flower bouquet fell to the floor.