16 Stories That Prove the Universe Has an Unexpected Way of Reconnecting Us With Our Past

Sometimes the past comes back at the most unexpected moments — at a bus stop, in a café, or right in the middle of an ordinary day. And one random encounter can turn your life around, remind you of forgotten feelings, or start a new chapter in your life.

• I got pregnant very young, my boyfriend left. I raised the child alone. He grew up to be an athlete, an excellent student, and even works part time now. Suddenly, the would-be mother-in-law showed up. “Grandson, my dearest, I’ve waited for you and loved you all my life.” Turns out her son married someone she didn’t approve of, moved 2,000 miles away, and hasn’t been seen since. She’s scared of being left alone in her old age. “Grandson” told her, “I don’t know you, ma’am, and I have only one grandmother, and that’s not you.” My God, I’ve never been happier. © Mamdarinka / VK
• My husband left me after childbirth. At least the apartment was mine. Soon, the neighbor from below took an interest in me. He was 5 years younger, but... it was so easy with him. He helped with chores, groceries, repairs — he became important not just for me, but for my daughter too. Gradually, I found time for myself. A year and a half later, my ex saw me again in the supermarket — with a healthy child and a better man by my side. He even had the nerve to suggest getting back together, but I told him off. My life changed for the better — and certainly not thanks to him. © Ward No.6 / VK
• I got hired as a teacher at the school I attended. The teacher with whom I always used to argue and fight still works there. She’s noticeably aged and didn’t recognize me at first. Then she figured it out and announced in front of everyone that she didn’t expect to see me there. Now we’ve become friends. We call each other by our first names because we’re colleagues now. We drink tea, chat heart-to-heart, and check notebooks together in the teacher’s lounge. I’m like a daughter to her. Who would have thought that my former teacher, whom I once hated, would become my friend — but that’s how it happens. © Work Stories / VK

• I recently ran into a guy I used to hang out with when I was 15. I had such a crush on him back then — he was fun, upbeat, the life of the party. Our paths diverged, and 25 years passed.
  We exchanged numbers, and he unexpectedly called. We met, chatted, laughed. He kissed me — and it was the most wonderful evening in years. Just a kiss, but the thrill was like being young again. I don’t know where this will lead, but for now, I’m happy. © Overheard / Ideer
• At 16, I got my first job as a waitress at a café. There, I met the manager — he was older and unavailable at the time. I really liked him, but I knew there was no chance, so our interaction was purely work-related.
  Years later, we bumped into each other at the same café, this time as customers, and started talking again. Now we live together and love each other to bits. It must be fate. © Overheard / Ideer
• I had a classmate. As a joke, we agreed that if we hadn’t found life partners by 30, we would marry. We lost touch after school. 2 years ago, I turned 30, and in the same year, we randomly met again. We started communicating, and 8 months later, I proposed to her. We’ve been together for 2 years now — exactly since we turned 30. © Overheard / Ideer

• My friend reached out last June, about a year after the falling out, to wish me a happy birthday. It was a beautiful text message, but I didn’t know what to do with it at first. Then we started to talk again through texts and emails during the whole summer. At one point, he realized how badly hurt I was from his past behavior and he understood why our friendship fell apart. So he wrote me a proper apology. He used to never apologize, it was the first time ever in our 10-years friendship that he really showed how he felt deep inside.
  So, after a few weeks, I asked if he’d like to grab a coffee some afternoon, and we met up early October. We laughed and cried a lot during this meetup. He apologized again properly. Now, even if I’m happy he made the first step to reconnect, I don’t think our friendship will be the same. Something definitely broke between us and he won’t earn my trust again. But I feel like it was a good thing to see each other again, in a way it gave me a sense of closure. © CalmWillingness1475 / Reddit
• I have a friend that has been like a second brother to me since around 16 years of age. I’m now 33. A few years ago I cut contact with him. Basically because I got offended and in my feelings about something I should have just spoken to him about. A few months back, I got back in contact, apologized and expressed my regrets. Didn’t expect a reply or for him to accept my apology but you know what, his first words to me were “I’m so happy you messaged me.” A week ago my partner left me after 15 years and he was immediately there for me and has even booked time off work to visit and support me (he lives ~350 miles away).
  Some friendships are unbreakable it seems. © Exciting-Bus-4631 / Reddit
• Every girl has that one former friend with whom they were once inseparable. We could talk for hours, share secrets and worries. But after school, our paths diverged — different universities, new people, and the friendship gradually faded.
  Recently, I went into a café near work and suddenly saw her. We both froze, and then she was the first to approach with a smile. So many years passed, and yet the same smile, the same look. We chatted, exchanged news, and the awkwardness quickly disappeared. She confessed that she had long wanted to write to me but didn’t dare. We agreed to meet over the weekend. Now I often think about how easily we sometimes lose people but how nice it is to find them again, even after many years. © Caramel / VK

• Recently, I attended a wedding of a former classmate. His invitation was a surprise — we hadn’t communicated or seen each other in a long time. To be honest, I felt a bit awkward because we were, perhaps, even more than friends. But seeing how happy he was with his wife made me genuinely happy for them. They understand and support each other wonderfully — something we didn’t have.
  There was a nice guy on the bride’s side. We got acquainted, it turned out we live nearby and have a lot in common. Initially, we just talked, then we started hanging out together. I wasn’t planning on a relationship, but over time I realized I had fallen in love — and it was mutual. Now we’re dating and even occasionally go on double dates with my classmate and his wife on weekends. © Caramel / VK
• My dad’s old secretary got in contact with him after about 30 years. My dad was so flattered and chatted to her on Facebook for a bit and then she invited him out to lunch. She was super surprised when he showed up with my mom. My dad is totally oblivious and noticed none of this. My mom says it was clear she was looking for a new partner in her life but the 3 of them ended up having a nice lunch. Now the ex-secretary has herself a boyfriend and the 4 of them are friends. © Turbulent-Weakness22 / Reddit
• When I was 6 months pregnant, my husband and I were walking in the park and accidentally met my former classmate. She was delighted and invited us for lunch — the meeting was unexpected but very pleasant.
  As we were saying goodbye, she mentioned that her mother works in a library and promised to bring us some fairy tales — saying they’d soon come in handy. I thought it was just politeness, but yesterday she actually sent us a big box of books. Even though my daughter is already 7, it’s still very nice. © Mamdarinka / VK

• I had a best friend from school. After 7 years of friendship, our paths diverged. I had a baby in my fourth year in college, diving into diapers and baby clothes, while she graduated from university and went on to work. Her career took off, with trips abroad for work and leisure, and I had my second child on the way. Communication naturally faded, though I missed her a lot.
  We met by chance after some time. We went to a café, and after the second cocktail, my friend admitted that she had long admired how I managed my family — I have a reliable husband and 2 wonderful children, while she only had work. Meanwhile, I always admired her confidence, determination, and ability to travel and grow. We cried, made up, and started communicating more.
  10 years have passed since that meeting. I now have an established career and 2 grown children, and she has a husband and beloved daughters. We’re both happy, though we regret that due to foolishness, we didn’t communicate for so many years. © Mamdarinka / VK
• In my youth, I got a job at the market in the grocery department. Once a box of canned goods got missing. My entire salary went to cover the shortage. I gave up the money — after all, I might have missed something. 4 years later, I accidentally met the shop owner. She approached and suddenly started apologizing, handed me a generous amount — it turns out the canned goods were found back then, they just couldn’t find me, as cell phones weren’t around yet. It turned out she had been worried all these years. © Overheard / Ideer

• At the age of 22, I got pregnant with a guy I had been dating for 3 years, but he left me. I decided that I would go ahead and have the baby anyway. The daughter was born looking exactly like him. One day, while I was out for a walk with the stroller, I happened to run into his parents. I offered them a chance to see their granddaughter, but his mother refused.
  10 years have passed — my daughter already has her own apartment, while he still lives with his girlfriend’s mom, remains unmarried, and has nothing of his own. © Overheard / Ideer
• A couple of years ago, I was standing at a bus stop in pouring rain, completely drenched. Suddenly, I ran into a girl from my former job — we hadn’t spoken in about a year, so we started chatting. Just then, a car pulled up, and my old university acquaintance was behind the wheel. He offered us a ride, and seeing my companion, he took her along too.
  I thanked him and soon forgot all about it. I didn’t run into either of them again. But today, I accidentally visited her page — and there were pictures from a wedding this summer! I wrote to her, and it turned out, after he dropped me off, they went to a café to chat and haven’t been apart since. I feel like Cupid. © Overheard / Ideer

Sometimes fate likes to remind us of itself with old acquaintances. Meetings that no one anticipated can sometimes change everything — feelings, plans, even life itself. And if you want to know what it’s like when the past returns unexpectedly and not always successfully — we have an article about just that.