Tyler Matthews sat on the steps of the historic courthouse in the fall, taking deep breaths after fixing the broken heating system inside. The steps were covered with gold paint. Tyler was 34 years old and had hands that looked like they had done honest labor. People were drawn to him like warmth from a fire because he had a sensitive heart. He was almost ready to leave when a small voice interrupted his thoughts.
Sir, could you help me? Tyler looked down and spotted a little girl at the bottom of the stone steps. She wore a pretty blue sweater and a pink crocheted hat with a joyful pom-pom on top. She held her teddy bear fiercely with her little arms. Tyler smiled because her face was pale but her eyes were brilliant.
Hello, my love. Tyler said this as he set down his tools. My name is Tyler. What is your name? She said in a soft yet distinct voice, “I’m Sophie.”
I live up there with my grandma, but the elevator broke down again. Tyler peered up at the old apartment building next to the courthouse. He knew the building well because he had worked on things there over the years.
The elevator had been having problems for months. Tyler stated in a hushed voice, “Those are a lot of steps for little legs.” Sophie nodded seriously and then looked at him with a straight look that only youngsters can give.
Mr. Tyler, if you take me up the stairs, I’ll tell you something. This secret is really important. Tyler stopped for a moment because of something in her voice.
She spoke with a wisdom that seemed to be beyond her four years, and he felt a peaceful sadness in his heart. Tyler got down on one knee to talk to Sophie and said, “I’d be happy to help you get home.” But you don’t have to give me anything back.
Sophie shook her head hard. No, this secret is one of a kind. My grandma says that you should always give something back when someone helps you.
Tyler looked at the little girl and saw how hard she was working. When he saw her, he thought of his own daughter, who lived far away with her mother. The same kind of tenacity and the same serious way of speaking…
He said, “Okay, Sophie.” I accept your offer. Tyler scooped up his tools with one hand and carefully hoisted Sophie with the other.
She was lighter than he anticipated, and she leaned against his shoulder with all her weight. Sophie pointed out things to him as they walked up the stairs together. The window where Mrs. Chen always laid flowers.
The door where Mr. Peterson played his violin every night. She paid close attention to everything around her. When they reached to the third floor, Tyler said, “You know everyone in this building.”
Sophie added that Grandma thinks it’s important to pay attention to others. She thinks that everyone has a story that is worth telling. When they got to the fourth floor, Sophie directed him to go to apartment 4B.
A woman in her 70s with silver hair and worried eyes stood there before they could knock. “Oh, there you are, Sophie,” the woman said, her voice full of relief. Then she spotted Tyler.
Hey there. Eleanor, I’m Sophie’s granny. “Tyler Matthews,” he said, and then he let Sophie go.
I led Sophie up the stairs. Again, the elevator seems to be acting up. Eleanor’s face softened with gratitude.
You were incredibly kind. Lately, Sophie has been having some health concerns, and the stairs can be challenging for her. Sophie pulled on Tyler’s coat.
Do you recall when I told you something private? Tyler knelt down next to her. I remember, Sophie. What do you know that I don’t? Sophie stared at her grandmother, who nodded in agreement.
Then she stepped near to Tyler and stated, “The secret is that adults forget the most important thing.” What is that? Tyler asked because he truly wanted to know. Sophie looked like she meant business.
They don’t recall that love isn’t something you can hold on to. You give affection to others. The more you give, the more you get.
Tyler felt something shift in his chest. This tiny child had just said something that many adults spend their whole lives trying to figure out. He gently asked her, “Where did you learn that?”
She explained it was because she wasn’t feeling well. While you’re sick, people show you they care in a lot of ways. Grandma takes care of me every day.
The doctor is usually nice. People I don’t know help me up the stairs. It showed me that love grows when you share it.
Eleanor gently touched Sophie’s shoulder. Sophie has also taught me this. Even when she’s not feeling well, she always finds ways to help others.
Tyler pondered about Sophie’s secret a lot in the weeks that followed. He began to notice the little things that people did to be polite to him. He started going to Eleanor and Sophie’s house a lot to fix things and talk about his job.
On one of their visits, Sophie was having a particularly awful day. She looked tired and pale, but as Tyler got there, her face lit up with joy. “Tyler, I’ve been waiting for you,” she said from the couch.
I saved you three cookies that Grandma made. Tyler witnessed that Sophie always placed others first, even when she was going through a hard period, while they were eating cookies. She was always nice to everyone she met, asked him how his day was going, and remembered things about his past jobs.
One afternoon, Tyler told Sophie, “You have taught me something very important.” What is that? She looked up from the puzzle they were working on together and inquired. You taught me that tools aren’t always the best approach to fix things.
When we are nice to each other, we can occasionally heal each other’s hearts. Sophie smiled, the same bright smile that had captured his eye the first time they met on the steps. Tyler, that’s exactly right.
The nicest thing is that helping someone else makes your heart better too. Three months later, Tyler heard some fantastic news. After her treatment worked, Sophie was becoming stronger every day.
Eleanor asked him to a special supper to celebrate. As they gathered around the small kitchen table, Sophie raised her glass of milk in a toast. To Tyler, who carried me up the stairs and found out what I was hiding.
Tyler lifted his own glass and stared at the wonderful little girl who had changed how he thought about being very rich. To Sophie, who taught me that the people who give the most are the ones who have the most money, not the ones who have the most things. Eleanor wiped away a tear…
And to the family we have made, not by blood but by love. Sophie gave Tyler a painting she had painted that night before he left. A dad was carrying a small child up a set of stairs, and hearts were floating all around them.
“This is us,” she remarked, “giving love and helping it grow.” Tyler folded the sketch carefully and put it in his wallet. It would stay there to remind him of the day a four-year-old child taught him the most important lesson in life. He thanked Sophie and gave her a soft hug.
Your secret changed everything. Sophie used all her strength to keep him from moving. That’s what secrets are for, Tyler.
To make the world a little bit better. That night, Tyler walked down the same steps in the courtroom where their friendship had began. He realized that some meetings change us for good. Sometimes the best gifts come in the smallest packages, and sometimes the best teachers are the ones you least expect.
The elevator in Sophie’s building was eventually fixed the next week, but Tyler still came over a lot. He had come to understand that certain bonds are not based on need or convenience. We all need each other, and it’s easy to see that love given freely always returns back in bigger amounts.
Sophie was accurate about what she was keeping secret. Love was not something to retain or save. It was a kind gift that would make both hearts feel better.
