The week had been overwhelming. My car was barely running, bills were piling up, and I was barely making ends meet. While standing in line at the store, I mentally tallied up my total, already knowing it would be more than I could afford.
As the numbers added up, my heart sank. I began setting aside items one by one—milk, diapers, even my child’s favorite cereal. Just then, the cashier gave me a gentle smile and quietly reached into her pocket, handing me a small amount of cash.
“You’re fine,” she whispered. “I’ve been there.”
I was stunned. “Thank you,” I said softly, holding back tears. She simply nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Still processing what had just happened, I finished checking out and headed to my car. But then I noticed something unusual on the receipt—something typed right beneath the total.
“Take your child and go. Don’t look back.”
My stomach turned. I glanced back toward the store, but the cashier was gone.
Was it a warning? A misunderstanding? A strange joke?
Continue reading on next page…