Story 1:
A woman handed me a sanitary pad, saying, “You need this.” Confused, I opened it to find the words “Google him” written in red ink. I Googled my boyfriend’s name, only to discover he was a TikTok star who dates people for social experiments. I realized I was just content for his next post and left him at the airport, grateful to the stranger who saved me from going deeper into a lie.

Story 2:
At 18, I was new to NYC and struggling to figure out how to buy a MetroCard. People behind me in line started yelling. A man stepped up, showed me how to do it, and even paid for my card. He reassured me with a simple, “Next time someone yells at you, yell back,” making me feel less alone and more confident in the city.

Story 3:
During a rough patch, I was late for work three days in a row, fearing I’d be fired. A coworker, Jake, covered for me, telling HR I was helping with a “family emergency.” Thanks to his kindness, I kept my job, got promoted six months later, and he never mentioned it again.

Story 4:
I was having a panic attack on the street after losing my job. A woman approached me, took my hand, and gently sat with me until I calmed down. She shared that she’d been through something similar and told me to “pay it forward” before disappearing. I’ll never forget her quiet kindness.