One evening, my pregnant neighbor came to our house crying. She looked exhausted and heartbroken. As soon as I opened the door, she broke down and said she didn’t know where else to go.
We weren’t close—just neighbors who greeted each other—but it was clear something terrible had happened. I helped her sit down and held her while she cried.
My husband reacted badly. He was annoyed and made a cruel comment, calling her a burden and telling her to leave. I told him to go inside. He did, but I stayed with her.
She told me her fiancé had just left her and didn’t want the baby anymore. She had no family nearby and no one to help her. I listened and let her cry until she calmed down.
Before she left, I gave her $200—money meant for our daily needs. I couldn’t really afford it, but she needed it more. She was deeply thankful and left feeling a little stronger.
Weeks later, my husband pointed out that the same neighbor had arrived in a luxury car. I looked outside and barely recognized her. She looked confident, happy, and well-dressed.
She came to see me and thanked me for my kindness. She gave back the $200 and said she didn’t need the money—she was financially stable. What she needed was compassion during her lowest moment.
She also gave me a beautiful necklace as a thank-you and said I could contact her anytime. Then she left.
My husband mocked her again, but I stayed silent. In that moment, something changed inside me. I realized how little kindness he had—and for the first time, I truly thought about leaving him and choosing better for myself.