It had been a challenging week. Bills were accumulating, my car was barely functioning, and my paycheck wasn’t nearly enough. Standing in line at Walmart, I quietly did mental math, trying to determine what items I’d have to leave behind.
When the cashier rang up the total, my heart sank—I didn’t have enough.
With a heavy sigh, I began setting aside essentials like milk, diapers, and my child’s favorite cereal. The cashier, a woman with a warm smile, discreetly reached into her pocket and handed me some money.
“You’re covered,” she whispered gently. “I’ve been in your shoes.”
Surprised and touched, I managed, “Thank you—I don’t even know how to express my gratitude.”
She just nodded modestly. I quickly finished checking out, still amazed by her generosity, and made my way to the car.
But my relief vanished as I glanced at the receipt in my hands. Below the total was a handwritten note:
“Take your child and leave. Now. Don’t look back.”
My pulse quickened. I spun around, searching for the cashier, but she’d disappeared.
Continue reading on next page…