During a drive from the north of Spain to Málaga in the south, we stopped for lunch on the outskirts of the historic city of Toledo. This was in the early 2000s, a time when we were navigating an extremely challenging phase in our lives. We parked our car at the top of a hill and walked down a long cobblestone street toward the cafés and restaurants lining the path.
As we drew closer, we noticed an elderly woman dressed in a long black gown and a matching headscarf. Crouched over from age, she moved slowly with the help of a walking stick, passing dozens of people seated at tables outside the cafés. She was not begging, yet it seemed as though she was quietly hoping someone might offer a helping hand.
Looking at her, Karima and I felt an inexplicable pull—a quiet sense that there was something truly special about this woman. I reached into my pocket and felt a thick fold of peseta bills. Even though we were running extremely low on funds ourselves, a quiet voice within urged me to give it all to her. In that moment, our own scarcity didn't matter at all. I turned to Karima, suggested we help her, and we stepped forward to gently tap her on the shoulder.
When she turned, she looked at us with a warmth that neither of us had ever experienced before. Her face was fair-skinned, wrinkled, and visibly tired. I placed the money into her palm, and what unfolded next was truly remarkable.
Her face became luminous, and for a fleeting moment, all her wrinkles seemed to dissolve. She looked youthful, radiant, and serene as she smiled at us from the depths of her soul. She reached out, embraced Karima, gave her a gentle kiss, and told her how beautiful she was. Then she turned to me with immense love in her eyes, wrapping me in the warmest hug. After bidding us farewell, she turned and slowly began to walk away. Just a moment later, when we turned back to look at her once more, she had vanished. It would have been physically impossible for her to walk out of sight so quickly in such a wide, open area.
We both felt profoundly blessed by this beautiful encounter. Shortly after that day, our circumstances took a turn for the better, and our lives have continued to go from strength to strength ever since. To this day, Karima and I remember our angel in Toledo with immense fondness. Deep down in our hearts, we know she appeared before us to guide us through one of our most difficult moments.
Yes, I truly believe angels exist.©️ Amyn Dahya
Have a blessed week ahead, my dear friends, graced with peace, happiness, and abundance...
Amyn Dahya