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It all started on a languid Saturday morning when I was browsing an internet marketplace in search of inexpensive and comfortable furniture for my small apartment. I only had $20, so I was on a limited budget when I came upon a dilapidated couch. The pictures revealed some questionable stains, some tears, and fading fabric. But that was a good deal for $20.
I set up a time to pick it up later that day after messaging the vendor. The couch was outside a little, disorganized house when I got there. I was cautioned that it was “a bit of a fixer-upper” by the owner, an elderly man with gentle eyes. I didn’t give a damn. I couldn’t wait to give the dilapidated object new life.
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I started cleaning and fixing it when I got home. My palm brushed upon something hard inside the couch while I was removing one of the cushions. I took off the cloth lining out of curiosity and discovered an ancient, dusty wooden box nestled inside the frame.
As I forced it open, my heart pounded. Numerous yellowed documents, including old stock certificates, letters, and receipts, were found inside. Among them was a letter from a long-forgotten family member, written more than fifty years ago, stating that these certificates were shares in a business that had long since become a fortune.
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Over the next few weeks, I conducted research. The fact that those shares were still in circulation and were valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars astounded me. My impulsive $20 couch turned out to be a treasure trove concealing a fortune.
I changed my life with my newfound fortune. I took night classes, paid off debt, and launched the little business I had always wanted. More than anything else, though, the experience taught me to never undervalue the worth that lies behind the deteriorated exterior of life.
Sometimes, if you’re willing to look a little closer, a $20 couch can make all the difference.
