The knot in the handkerchief

"I can help you," the man approached me.

I kept trying to untie the knot in the handkerchief he had given me. I waved him off, "No need."

"Are you sure?" He eyed me and I nodded.

For minutes I tried to untie the handkerchief without tearing it.

That's when I managed to untie the knot. Carefully, but tensely, I unfolded the handkerchief.

On it were letters. I could not read them. "Maybe ... you could help me now?"

I looked to where the man had just been standing. No one was there.

Suddenly, I heard a voice.

"I can help you," another man addressed me.

I continued to try to decipher the letters. I waved him off, "No need."

"Are you sure?" He eyed me and I nodded.

For minutes I tried to decipher the letters.

Then I managed to identify the words on the handkerchief.

I could not explain their meaning.
"Maybe... you could help me now?"

I looked to where the man had just been standing. No one was there.