While traveling on the subway, I met a young girl asking for help to buy a ticket home. She had lost her bag, which held her wallet and phone. Touched by her plight, I chose to pay for her ticket.
In that instant, tears welled in her eyes, not from sadness but from a surge of gratitude. She explained she had been roaming for hours, unsure how to get home, as people passed by without acknowledging her requests. My simple gesture of support seemed to lift the heavy weight of worry she carried.
As we waited for her train, she shared her name, Lily. She had visited the city for a job interview that didn’t go as planned, and on her way back, someone stole her bag. With no friends nearby, she felt alone and uncertain about who to trust.
Her words reminded me of a time when I was stuck in a strange place, and a kind stranger helped me without asking for anything in return. When the train arrived, Lily gave me a small note she had written: “Thank you for seeing me when others didn’t.” She promised to repay me someday, but I urged her to share the kindness by aiding someone else in need when she could. Her face glowed with a genuine, warm smile as she stepped onto the train.
As the train doors shut, I thought about how acts of compassion can start a ripple of goodwill that spreads far beyond our view. That brief encounter in a busy subway station reminded me that every person has their own story, and sometimes, a small act of care can brighten someone’s day.
