~Last Night on the Subway~

A woman my age with a seven-month pregnant belly peeking out of a grey peacoat slipped me a note last night after we made eye contact on the train. Her note read, "I am homeless. I do not want to ask for help, but there is no one I can turn to. Do you have extra change?" I handed her two dollars before I made sense of what was happening. After I gave her two dollars, another woman sitting next to me saw the note and gave the woman two dollars. She looked at us in our eyes and said, "I genuinely appreciate it." She left before I could reply.

Did my resemblance of a friendly grape, dressed in a purple hooded puffy coat with a purple backpack, cause her to take a chance and trust me? Was it because I smiled at her after a moment of awkward eye contact? 

Since last night, I have thought about how I wish I could have taken her shopping at the Trader Joe's located at the next stop. It would have taken me ten minutes to buy her prenatal vitamins, diapers, food, protein shakes, water, and anything else that she needed. 

I am praying for her and her baby. I pray that she finds the strength to ask for help, and that she finds another woman who jumps at the opportunity to help, like the woman sitting next to me. I pray that she finds a woman who, without a second thought, will take her grocery shopping. 

I know you may feel alone. I promise you that you are not alone. I am praying for you. I am confident that our friend on the train is praying for you too.