On her 100th birthday, Miranda found herself alone, as all her loved ones had passed on. As she sat at her kitchen table, lighting the candles on her cake, she reflected on her long life filled with memories of a world that had changed dramatically over the decades. Despite the loneliness, she felt at peace with her life choices, having dedicated herself to a career in nursing.

Just as she blew out the candles, wishing for a better world, the doorbell rang, startling her. Curious about who could be visiting, she answered the door to find an unfamiliar man in his 60s or 70s standing there. His face lit up as he recognized her.

“Nurse Estevez?” he asked with a smile.

Miranda, puzzled, didn’t immediately recognize him. “Nurse? I haven’t been called that in years. Do I know you?”

“It’s me, Adrian! Adrian Miller,” the man replied. “Sixty years ago, you treated me when I was at my worst. I was your patient at Flagler Hospital.”

As the memories came rushing back, Miranda’s eyes widened in recognition. Adrian had been a young boy, gravely ill with cancer, and she had cared for him during his battle. Despite the doctors’ grim predictions, Adrian had miraculously recovered, and she had often thought of him as one of the miracles of her career.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Miranda embraced Adrian warmly. They moved inside to share her birthday cake, and as they sat together, Adrian shared photos of his family and life, telling her about his wife, children, and grandchildren. He expressed his deep gratitude for the care and encouragement she had given him all those years ago, crediting her words and support for his survival and success.

Miranda was moved to tears, her heart filled with joy at the unexpected reunion. It was the best birthday she had ever had, filled with stories and laughter, making her forget her earlier loneliness.

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