"The Last Leaf" is a short story written by O. Henry, a famous American writer known for his clever plot twists and surprise endings. The story follows the lives of two artists, Johnsy and Sue, who live in a small apartment in Greenwich Village, New York. Johnsy is sick with pneumonia and is convinced that she will die when the last leaf falls from the ivy plant outside her window.
Sue, Johnsy's friend and roommate, does everything in her power to lift Johnsy's spirits and keep her hopeful. However, as the days go by and the leaves continue to fall, Johnsy becomes more and more convinced that she is going to die.
One night, as Johnsy lay in bed watching the last leaf clinging to the vine, she sees it tremble in the wind and fall to the ground. Johnsy becomes resigned to her fate and prepares to die.
However, the next morning, Johnsy awakens to find that the leaf is still on the vine, and she is filled with hope and a renewed will to live. It is revealed that the "last leaf" was actually a painting by their neighbor, Mr. Behrman, who had climbed up to the roof in the middle of the night to paint the leaf on the wall, knowing that Johnsy would see it from her window and be filled with hope.
Mr. Behrman, an old and sickly artist who had always struggled to find success, sacrifices his own health to save Johnsy's life. The selfless act of kindness inspires Johnsy to fight for her own life and recover from her illness.
"The Last Leaf" is a heartwarming story about the power of hope and the selfless acts of love and friendship that can inspire us to overcome even the most difficult challenges. It is a reminder that, no matter how hopeless things may seem, there is always the potential for hope and change. So, the last leaf is a beautiful story about friendship, hope and selflessness.