a man noticed a woman stranded on the side of the road.

One day, a man noticed a woman stranded on the side of the road. In the fading light, it was clear she needed help. He pulled his Pinto up in front of her Mercedes and got out. The sound of his sputtering car lingered as he approached her.

Despite his friendly smile, the woman felt uneasy. She had been waiting for help for over an hour, and fear crept in as she wondered if he might harm her. His worn appearance and evident hunger made her doubt his intentions.

Seeing her fear, he understood. He had felt that same cold grip of fear before. Gently, he said, “I’m here to help you, ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? My name’s Bryan Anderson, by the way.”

It was just a flat tire, but for an older woman, that was enough to cause distress. Bryan got down on the cold ground, searching for a spot to place the jack. He scraped his knuckles a few times but eventually managed to change the tire, though it left him dirty and sore.

As he tightened the last lug nut, the woman rolled down her window and began to chat. She explained that she was from St. Louis, just passing through. Her gratitude was evident as she thanked him profusely.

Bryan simply smiled as he closed the trunk. When she asked how much she owed him, she was ready to pay any amount. She shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t stopped.

But Bryan didn’t see it as a job. To him, it was about helping someone in need, just as others had helped him in the past. This was how he had always lived, and he couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.

“If you really want to repay me,” he told her, “the next time you see someone who needs help, lend them a hand. And think of me when you do.”

He waited until she started her car and drove away. Though the day had been cold and dreary, he felt warmth in his heart as he headed home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road, the woman saw a small café and decided to stop for a bite to eat and warm up before continuing her journey. The café was modest, with two old gas pumps out front, and the whole place felt unfamiliar.

A waitress came over, offering a clean towel to dry her damp hair. Despite the weariness from a long day on her feet, the waitress wore a sweet smile. The woman noticed she was heavily pregnant, yet her kindness shone through. The woman wondered how someone with so little could be so generous, and then she thought of Bryan.

After finishing her meal, the woman paid with a hundred-dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change, but by the time she returned, the woman was gone. Confused, the waitress noticed a note written on a napkin.

As she read it, tears welled up in her eyes: “You don’t owe me anything. I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out just as I’m helping you. If you want to pay me back, don’t let this chain of love end with you.”

Beneath the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Though the waitress still had tables to clear and customers to serve, she made it through the day with a lighter heart. That night, as she climbed into bed beside her sleeping husband, she thought about the money and the kind words from the stranger. She marveled at how the woman could have known just how much they needed it. With the baby due next month, finances had been tight.

Gazing at her husband, she gently kissed him and whispered, “Everything’s going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.”

Author Unknown.