08/09/2025
The bus was unusually crowded that evening. I managed to squeeze into a seat, and soon found myself overhearing a quiet conversation between two strangers beside me.
One man had just lost his job. His voice trembled as he admitted he didn’t know how he’d tell his family.
The other man—someone he’d clearly just met—listened carefully, nodding with empathy. Then he said, “I know it feels like the end, but sometimes life closes one door so you can notice another. I was fired once too. That’s how I found the work I love today.”
The worried man’s eyes softened. For the first time in the conversation, he let out a small laugh. In that moment, the heaviness around him seemed lighter.
When the bus stopped, they shook hands and went their separate ways—two strangers connected for just a few minutes.
I realized then that empathy doesn’t need history, blood, or friendship. Sometimes, the comfort of a kind stranger is enough to remind us we’re not alone.
💭 Have you ever been comforted by someone you didn’t even know?