A colleague of mine relates a true story on his blog. Vince, a photographer, is walking his dogs down a rainy Vancouver lane when he notices snapshots spilling from a soggy cardboard carton. Turns out to be an entire photo album that’s been chucked out. Shocked and curious that someone would jettison their photo archive, Vince begins to examine this discarded life: a young girl growing up – her graduation, boyfriends, marriage, birth of a daughter, breastfeeding. Vince writes:

“These pictures were so personal and so private and so filled with love that it hurt to see them thrown out in the trash. These pictures were anything but garbage.”

Wait, there’s more. The baby grows into a beautiful young girl, goes to school, becomes pregnant – yes, the family cycle repeating itself. Now there’s a beaming soldier boy anticipating the birth as well, hospital shots, the new baby, everyone shining.

“And then the pictures of the boy in uniform, the handsome young man, were torn out of the album. And the beautiful girl with the new baby was pictured by herself and then the album stopped and I was looking at it in the rain.”

I feel Vince’s reticence – almost shame – at dwelling over this private tragedy. It wasn’t meant for his or anyone’s eyes, and I’m glad he didn’t photograph it. Yet, my mind’s eye still burns with images. How is that such a short story can move me almost to tears? Most full-length movies don’t touch me so deeply.

I guess because…this story is real. Truth is stranger than fiction. Or is it because the incident reveals with such pathos the fragility of human relationships? It’s such a shocking glimpse into human nature with all its vulnerability and imperfection. Is this our fate, too, waiting for us?

Then I thought…what if Vince invented this story? Would it make any difference? Would I feel any less disturbed, sorry, compassionate? Would you? Whatever else I was feeling, I would think the author was a brilliant storyteller.

This is what ‘story’ is all about – transporting us into the heart of another person. That this story accomplishes it so quickly and powerfully makes it – in my opinion – a great story.

I’m learning something from it every time I recall it. If you haven’t done so yet – check out Vince’s account for yourself.