Struggling Former Nurse Can’t Afford Groceries until Voice behind Says ‘It’s Our Turn to Help You’ – Story of the Day

A dedicated nurse who helped many people throughout her life doesn't even have enough money to buy food for her dinner until someone special comes running to her rescue.

Lucy looked down at the few coins in her purse. Was this what all her years of selfless care had bought her? She was broke, and couldn't even afford the cheapest takeaway.

She was walking through the aisles of the supermarket looking for discount items, anything she could make a meal out of. She'd asked the woman at the fruit and vegetable section for some wilted produce and was refused.

"I can't give you these," the woman said harshly. "I gotta throw them out! I'm not risking my job for a beggar!"

Lucy felt herself blushing painfully. "I'm not a beggar," she said with quiet dignity. "I'm retired..."

"Then where's your pension?" the woman asked rudely. "Go tell your story somewhere else!"

No matter how dark things get, there is always hope.

Lucy turned away, blinking back tears. The wilted cabbage and the bruised carrots and potatoes would have made a hearty soup, but it was not to be. Maybe a tin of Vienna sausages, mustard, and some hotdog rolls?

How long had it been since she'd had a hotdog with all the trimmings? She counted out her coins again. Nope, not enough. She had three dollars, which might be enough for a loaf of unbranded white bread, a liter of milk, and a few slices of the cheapest lunch meat at the deli counter.

She carefully chose the cheapest milk she could find, then selected the bread. She asked the woman at the deli counter for 50 grams of Bologna and headed for the till.

She waited in line, and when she finally got there, the girl quickly scanned her purchases. "That's $3.65," she said in a bored voice.

"No," Lucy said. "Please check again..."

"$3.65," said the girl again, not even looking at Lucy. "Pay up and move on!"

Embarrassed, Lucy backed away from the till. "I'm sorry," she said. "I made a mistake..."

"WAIT!" cried a voice. "Please wait!" Lucy turned and saw a slim young woman pushing a heavily-laden shopping cart.

She was panting when she got to Lucy. "Miss, Harton," she gasped. "Here are your groceries!" Lucy saw that the cart was filled with enough food to last her a month or two. There was meat, fresh fruit, vegetables, tinned goods, coffee, everything she had been craving for so long.

"I can't accept this!" she said to the woman. "I can't afford this!"

"Miss Horton," the woman said. "After everything you did for my mother? Now it’s our turn to help you!"

"Your mother?" Lucy asked. "Oh! You're Rachel Porter's daughter!"

The woman smiled. "Yes, I am, and you don't know how much we appreciate everything you did for my mother during her last days. But tell me, what's happened to you?"

Lucy shrugged. "What happens to a lot of doctors and nurses," she explained. "I was infected with HIV on the job. Medical insurance covers some costs, but the rest comes out of my pension."

The young woman was looking at Lucy with a gleam in her eye. "Would you be interested in a job?"

"A job?" asked Lucy. "You want to give me a job?"

"My dad's been on his own since my mom died three years ago," she said. "But we've been looking for a lie-in companion. I think you two would get on very well!"

Lucy started to cry, and the young woman put her arms around her and hugged her. "It's OK," she said gently. "It's OK!"

"You don't understand," Lucy cried. "Your kindness... I've been so alone... "

"Miss Horton, you were there for my mother and comforted her in her worse moments, how could I ever let you be alone?"

What can we learn from this story?

• Never give up. No matter how dark things get, there is always hope. Better days are ahead!
• What we give is what we get. Lucy was kind and loving all her life, and when she was at her lowest point, that is what she received.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a judge who is shocked when she discovers that an elderly woman she is forced to rule against for debt and repossess her house is a teacher she loves and admires.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone’s life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.