
A woman looking at her mother | Source: Midjourney
For weeks, I didn’t answer their calls or visit them. Then, one evening, I got an excellent idea.
I was walking home from work, thinking about spreadsheets and deadlines, when I spotted him. A man, probably in his late 30s, sat on the sidewalk with a cardboard sign asking for change.
He looked rough, had an unkempt beard, and wore dirty clothes, but there was something in his eyes. A kindness and a sadness that made me pause.

A homeless man | Source: Pexels
That’s when an idea struck me. It was crazy, but it felt like the perfect solution to all my problems.
“Excuse me,” I said to the man. “This might sound crazy, but, um, would you like to get married?”
The man’s eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Look, I know this is weird, but hear me out,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I need to get married ASAP. It would be a marriage of convenience. I’d provide you with a place to live, clean clothes, food, and some money. In return, you’d just have to pretend to be my husband. What do you say?”