I PAID FOR A STRANGER’S GROCERIES TWO YEARS AGO—AND TODAY, I GOT THIS IN THE MAIL | November 21, 2025

 

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I Paid for a Stranger’s Groceries Two Years Ago — And Today, I Got This in the Mail

It was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon — one of those long, gray days when everything feels like it’s running on autopilot. I stopped by the grocery store after work to pick up a few essentials: milk, bread, and apples. The checkout line was slow, and everyone seemed a little weary, waiting for the end of the day.

In front of me stood a woman in her late sixties. Her cart was modest — a few cans of soup, some rice, and a small package of chicken. But as the cashier totaled her groceries, I noticed the hesitation in her eyes. She fumbled through her wallet, pulling out a few crumpled bills and some change. The total still blinked red on the screen.