I accidentally forgot my receipt at the self-checkout.

A woman quickly approached, waving it lightly toward me.

“You dropped this,” she said with a warm smile.

I thanked her, slipped it into my bag, and went home without giving it another thought.

Later that evening, when I unpacked my groceries, something unusual caught my eye.

On the back of the receipt, written in quick, slanted handwriting, were the words: “Check your back seat.”

My heart gave a jolt.

For a brief moment, my thoughts spiraled — had I dropped something important, or was it some kind of warning?

Curiosity won over fear.

I stepped outside and unlocked my car, the cool air brushing against my face.

There, nestled in the corner of the back seat, was my wallet — the one I’d been searching for all morning.

A rush of relief and gratitude washed over me.

The woman must have noticed it while I was loading my groceries but couldn’t reach me in time, so she left the note instead.

That small gesture stayed with me long after. In a world where so many people rush past one another, she chose to notice and to help.

It reminded me that kindness doesn’t always come in grand acts — sometimes, it arrives quietly, written on the back of a crumpled receipt, restoring a little faith in humanity when you least expect it.