One night, I was traveling on a bus. It was an 8 hour-long journey. Everyone on the bus was quiet, some were sleepy, and others were just staring out of the windows. I was sitting peacefully, enjoying the silence.
Suddenly, a man at the front stood up. He looked confused and very tense. He was mumbling something, but nobody could understand what he was saying. He kept moving around, looking worried.
People around him started whispering. Some said things like, “What’s his problem?” or “Why doesn’t he just get off the bus?” I didn’t say anything either. I just watched him and thought, What is he doing?
The man kept looking at everyone, maybe hoping someone would help. But nobody did. Not even me. I wanted to ask him, “Are you okay?” but I didn’t. I just sat there, thinking maybe someone else would do something.
Finally, at the next stop, the man got off the bus. He looked sad, like he didn’t know what to do. The door closed, and the bus continued its journey. Everyone went back to being quiet like nothing had happened.
But for me, it wasn’t over. I kept thinking about him. What if he needed help? What if he was lost or scared? Why didn’t I do anything?
I realized I had missed my chance to be kind, to help someone who might really have needed it. And I wasn’t the only one. Everyone else on the bus stayed silent and I was too.
That night, I learned something important. Sometimes, we don’t act because we are scared or unsure. But that’s how we lose our humanity.
If I had just asked him, “Are you okay?” maybe things would have been different for him. I promised myself that next time, I won’t stay silent. I will speak up, even if it feels hard.
This story is a reminder for all of us. If you see someone who needs help, don’t wait for someone else to act. Be the one who does. A small act of kindness can mean so much.
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