Off The Record
I Donated All Of My Savings To Assist A Stranger, And The Subsequent Events Of The Following Days Forever Altered My Life
I never imagined that the most remarkable occurrence in my life would result from depleting my financial account for a person I hardly knew. I believed I was bidding my dream farewell when I donated every last euro I had accumulated. I didn’t realize that I was genuinely welcoming something far more significant.
I’d been careful for years. I had a reason for every dime I saved.
Purchasing my ideal vehicle was my only objective.
I lived frugally, missing out on nights out, and turned down vacations in order to be able to drive something I had worked so hard to earn.
Then I tossed it all away in one instant.
Not for someone in the family. Not for a companion.
For a total stranger, though.
What have I done? was all I could think about for days after that.
It was just another morning when it all started. After looking at my savings account, I saw that I would need to put in extra hours for a few more months before I would have enough money buy that cherry-red Mustang GT that I had had my eye on for years.
I said to myself, “Two more months,” as I made my way to work, passing through the dilapidated neighborhood I frequented every day. I saved fifteen minutes by using the shortcut, but my coworkers would always ask me why I would walk through “that part of town.”
I saw the small girl sitting on the porch of a dilapidated apartment building, as usual.
She was constantly there, either observing passersby or playing with rocks. She never begged for food or money, unlike other children in the neighborhood. She simply… existed. Although I had never spoken to her, I had begun to greet her with a nod every morning.
“Morning,” I said, acknowledging as usual.
She glanced up, gave a small grin, and went back to her bottle cap collection. I didn’t give it any more thought and carried on with my journey.
Kevin, a coworker, dropped by my desk at work.
“Ethan, you still saving for that midlife crisis car of yours?” he joked.
“It’s not a midlife crisis if you’re thirty,” I fired back, keeping my eyes on my computer. “And yes, almost there.”
“Man, you’ve been ‘almost there’ for like, two years now,” Kevin chuckled. “You know what they say—all work and no play…”
“Makes Ethan able to afford a Mustang,” I said with a smile. “Now let me finish this report.”
The day went on and on, with spreadsheets and meetings.
The streets were covered in lengthy shadows as the sun began to drop by the time I made my way home.
Something had changed as I turned onto the well-known shortcut. The young girl from the morning was in the middle of the throng.
But she wasn’t playing quietly this time.
As people went by, she was sobbing and frantically pulling at their sleeves.
Her voice was hoarse with desperation as she wailed, “Please! Please help my papa! He’s so sick!”
Most people avoided making eye contact and drew away.
A few whispered “sorry” and hurried on. I slowed down and observed the action.
She clutched at a man’s jacket and said, “Please, sir!” “My papa can’t get up! He needs medicine!”
The man continued to walk after shaking his head.
With my feet planted firmly on the sidewalk, I paused. I’d read enough scam stories on the internet. Children had been used to coerce strangers into making financial contributions.
However, something about the way her small hands trembled and she clutched at people made my stomach turn.
She was more than a showwoman. She was afraid.
Her anxious gaze fell on me before I could question myself.
She screamed, “Mister… please!” as her tiny fingers reached for my sleeve. “You gotta help me! My papa won’t wake up!”
I got a lump in my throat. Like everyone else, I was free to leave. Act as though I didn’t hear.
But before my head could dispute, my body took action.
I said, “Hey, calm down,” “Where’s your dad?”
Her mouth trembled, as though she was shocked that someone had finally stopped.
She grabbed my wrist and began pulling me in the direction of the alley. “Come!” she said.
When I followed her, my heart was racing. Was I acting appropriately? Was she going to do something horrible and take me somewhere I didn’t know?
All of my bad ideas simply disappeared the moment I entered her house. Her home was barely the size of a posh home’s master bedroom. It was just big enough to fit a ragged mattress on the floor and a broken table in the corner.
And there was a man on that mattress, his chest rising in irregular gasps, his skin clammy and pale. His clothes was soaked in sweat. He looked as though he hadn’t drank any water in days because his lips were cracked and dry.
He wasn’t only ill. He was dying.
The girl cried, “Papa,” and knelt next to him. “I brought help.”
I stepped forward and looked around the room. Nothing was present. No food. No medication. Just a wet towel and a pail of murky water.
I looked across at the girl. “Has he seen a doctor?”
She gave a fierce shake of her head.
Her voice broke as she said, “We don’t have no money.” “Please, sir. Please don’t leave.”
I clutched my phone as I swallowed. This individual was unknown to me. This female was unknown to me. One thing was certain, though: this man wouldn’t survive the night if I left.
I inhaled deeply before dialing 911.
I was surprised by how quickly the ambulance arrived. I took a step back and watched Mia hold her father’s hand as the paramedics hurried in, taking the man’s vitals and asking quick-fire questions.
“He’s burning up,” mumbled one of them. “Severe dehydration. Fever’s through the roof.”
Mia’s little fingers won’t let go as they loaded him onto the stretcher.
She screamed, “I’m coming too!” and attempted to get inside.
There was a pause from one paramedic. “Are you her guardian?”
“No,” I said. “But she has no one else.”
I was horrified by Mia’s expression.
“You riding with us?” the paramedic asked with a sigh and a point in my direction.
I ought to have left then. I have nothing to do with this.
But before my head could stop me, my feet stepped forward.
The wait at the hospital was intolerable. Mia was sitting next to me, wiggling her legs nervously.
“We need to admit him immediately. His infection has spread, and if we don’t start treatment, he won’t make it,” a doctor remarked shortly after.
I was relieved at that moment. The man would now receive the care he required, so I was happy I had phoned the ambulance.
I was surprised by the doctor’s next statement, though.
“He doesn’t have insurance. Treatment will need to be paid upfront.”
I inquired, “How much?”
I got the number from the doctor. It was about the amount I had set aside for my vehicle.
In my ears, my heart thumped. I was familiar with the number.
I had been looking at my savings account every day, making calculations, adjustments, and plans.
And now, that number represented the difference between life and death for a man I didn’t even know.
I held onto the counter’s edge. Ethan, think. Consider.
I could leave. Nobody would hold me responsible. I had already gotten him there by calling for an ambulance. Most people wouldn’t have done that much.
I could give you half. The hospital might be able to arrange anything.
In a desperate attempt to find a way out, I brushed my hands across my face. I didn’t put in years of hard effort only to discard everything in a single snap choice.
I questioned the doctor and the newly arrived nurse, “Is there… any other way?” “A payment plan? Something?”
The doctor said, “Not for immediate treatment,” and shook his head. “We only accept upfront payments for that.”
I took a deep breath and glanced down at Mia. Her eyes were wide as she begged me silently.
She had faith in me.
What would happen to her if I refused? I pondered. To him? What if he
The words I’d been dreading sprang out of my mouth before I could think any further.
My words were, “Use my card,” “I’ll pay for his treatment.”
My gut churned as the doctor nodded and left.
Everything had just been tossed out.
I looked at my bank balance two days later.
The zeros made my chest clench even though I already knew what I would see.
I had spent all the money I had saved for the Mustang.
I assured myself that what I had done was correct. An automobile was not as valuable as a man’s life. Doubt nevertheless began to creep in.
Kevin shook his head and leaned on my desk at work. “Dude. Tell me you didn’t.”
I didn’t respond.
“You actually spent all your savings?” said the man. “Man, you could’ve given them part of it. What if you lose your job? What if you need that money?”
I took a quick breath. “I couldn’t just let him die, Kev.”
Kevin combed his hair with his hand. “Look, I get wanting to help. But what if you just made their problem yours?”
I didn’t know how to respond.
As I lay in bed that night, my mind went haywire.
That money was earned over years of labor.
What if I get hurt right now?
Was that a wise decision, or was I being careless?
I began to stay away from Mia’s street after that day. I would rather not be reminded of what I had done by seeing her or her father.
I had done something right, to be honest. However, I secretly felt that I had destroyed my own life.
I chose the longer route that avoided going through Mia’s area instead of taking the shortcut to work. I went to work, came home, ate dinner, and slept for days on end.
As usual, I didn’t even check my social media accounts.
After a week, Kevin came to my desk with his phone in his hand. “Dude. You’re famous.”
As I looked through some paperwork, I questioned, “What does that mean?”
“Look,” he remarked as he turned the television in my direction. A hospital nurse had posted on social media about me, saying, “Apparently, this woman is an influencer. She works as a nurse at the hospital where you paid for that man’s treatment.”
A few days ago, a man came into our hospital and paid for a stranger’s life-saving surgery. He inquired as to whether there were less expensive options or a method to divide the payments before giving his card. However, he made the payment after realizing the patient would not survive without prompt medical attention. Without hesitation. Don’t question it. Just good human nature. The caption said, “We need more people like these.”
Thousands of people shared and commented on the post.
The nurse who had been standing close by at first had joined the doctor who was speaking to me, I recalled. She had observed me hesitating, my fists balled into fists as I struggled with myself before drawing my card.
She must have realized that I was having trouble affording the procedure.
And now the world was aware of it somehow.
My phone buzzed with a call from an unidentified number a few days after the post became viral. I nearly ignored it, thinking it was a telemarketer or scam, but something prompted me to answer.
“Hello?”
I heard a bright, businesslike voice ask, “Is this Ethan?”
“Yeah, who’s this?”
“My name’s Amanda. I’m calling from AXS Auto Dealership.”
I scowled. A vehicle dealership? What was it that they desired from me?
“We saw the post about what you did for that little girl and her father,” Amanda went on. “Your generosity inspired a lot of people. Including us.”
Still not knowing where this was headed, I touched my temple. “Okay…?”
“We wanted to do something special for you,” she stated. “If you’re interested, we’d love to offer you a car. Completely free.”
A vehicle? Like that? Absolutely not!
I paused for a while to take in her words. Why would someone give me a car in exchange for saving the life of an unidentified man?
I said, “Okay, so… What’s the catch?”
Amanda chuckled. “No catch. You can come down to our dealership and pick any model within a certain price range. We believe good deeds should be rewarded, and this is our way of saying thank you.”
A car dealership is offering to buy me a car.
I didn’t believe it.
Still half-thinking it was a prank, I entered AXS Auto the following day.
A salesman smiled casually as he came up to me. He said, “You must be Ethan,” and shook my hand. “We’ve been expecting you.”
With a sudden dry throat, I nodded. It didn’t feel real yet.
He pointed to the floor of the showroom. “Take your time. Look around. If there’s a specific model you’ve always wanted, just let me know.”
My voice sounded softer than I had intended when I said, “Are you guys really serious about this?” “I mean… this feels like too much for what I did. I—”
There was no change in the salesman’s smile. “Sir, I know it’s hard to believe, but this is something we do from time to time. AXS Auto has a tradition of recognizing people who go above and beyond for others. A few years ago, we surprised a retired firefighter with a truck after he saved a family from a burning building. Last year, we gifted a single mom a car after she spent months walking to work just to provide for her kids.”
I took a swallow.
He gave me a shoulder pat. “You didn’t just help someone, Ethan. You changed their lives. And now, we want to do something for you. So, go ahead. Pick any car currently parked in our showroom. It’s yours.”
I looked in the direction of the lines of immaculate, unaltered cars. My mind was having trouble keeping up with the movement of my feet.
Then I noticed it.
Red as a cherry. Smooth. The GT Mustang.
As I approached it, my heart pounded loudly in my ears.
I extended my hand and slid it across the glossy surface, my fingers shaking. To the touch, the paint felt cold and silky.
I had been dreaming about this moment for years, but it had never looked like this in my mind.
It was more than just a vehicle. It was the culmination of all my efforts. All of the things I had imagined. And all that I had voluntarily relinquished.
The salesman cut me off in my tracks, asking, “Is this the one?”
I swallowed against the overpowering surge of emotions that was building in my chest and blinked quickly. I wiped my eyes rapidly and looked up when my eyesight became blurry.
I gave a nod.
For once, I allowed a tear to fall down my cheek.
The salesman grinned. “Let’s get your paperwork done.”
In an instant, my dream was returned to me.
I took the wheel a few minutes later. It felt unbelievable to me that I now owned the car.
I tightened my fingers over the leather as I eased it onto the road, shivering at the low rumble of the engine.
My hands automatically moved the wheel to another location when I should have been going home.
I drove up in front of a recognizable dilapidated apartment building fifteen minutes later.
Mia’s home.
The spot I’d been avoiding ever since I made that choice.
I turned off the engine, took a deep breath, and got out.
The door creaked open as I approached the little flat, revealing Mia’s face.
We merely stared at one another for a while.
Her lips parted in a gasp as her eyes expanded.
She ran forward and exclaimed, “Mister Ethan!” “You came back!”
She put her little arms around my waist and squeezed.
Luis, her father, entered the doorway in better health than I had remembered.
Silently, “You saved my life,” he said. “I can never repay you for that.”
I glanced between the young girl who had trusted me to save him and the guy who had almost died.
“You don’t have to,” I mentioned, grinning. “I already got my reward.”
Mia’s head cocked. “You did?”
I laughed and gestured to the gleaming cherry-red Mustang that was parked at the curb.
Her eyes widened.
She squeaked, “No way!” around.
Luis raised his eyebrows. “That’s your reward?”
“Yes,” I said with a nod. “It’s the car I was saving for. Turns out, someone saw what happened at the hospital. The story spread, and a dealership gifted me this. I still can’t believe it.”
Luis shook his head and let out a breath. “That’s incredible.”
“Can I have a ride in it one day?”
I chuckled. “We’ll see, kid.”
Still giddy with anticipation, she ran back to the steps, beaming. Luis nodded slightly in gratitude and followed her inside.
For a while, I stood there and gazed at their front door.
I believed I had lost everything a few weeks ago.
But now that I was standing here, I realized that I had nothing lost. I had actually gained a lot more than I had anticipated.
Helping people never goes unappreciated, you see. Kindness always finds its way back to us, even when it seems like we’re giving something up.
We simply have no idea what form it will take.
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