I was seven months pregnant, tired, and a little achy, when I boarded the crowded bus that day. The bus jolted forward, and I gripped the rail for balance, wishing I could sit for just a few minutes. Then, I saw her—a frail old woman with shaky steps, climbing in slowly.No one moved. Rows of indifferent faces stayed fixed on their phones and windows. Something inside me stirred. Without thinking twice, I stood up and offered her my seat.

She hesitated, then accepted with a soft nod, her eyes never leaving mine.Throughout the ride, she sat silently but kept gazing at me, as though she could see beyond my tired smile, beyond the surface. Her stare wasn’t intrusive—it was searching, almost knowing. I shifted uncomfortably, unsure what she saw in me.When the bus slowed at her stop, she reached out gently, brushing my hand. Then, without a word, she slipped something heavy into my coat pocket and shuffled away into the crowd.Curiosity prickled my skin.

I reached inside my pocket and pulled it out—a small, old-fashioned locket. My breath caught when I opened it. Inside was a tiny picture of a mother holding a newborn, her face glowing with joy. On the opposite side, an engraving read:“Every sacrifice for love is never wasted.”Tears welled in my eyes. I clutched the locket tightly as warmth spread through me.

That woman didn’t just give me a trinket; she gave me a reminder—that even though my body was weary and the world sometimes unkind, what I carried inside me was worth every ache, every sacrifice.I never saw her again, but that locket stayed with me. Months later, when I held my baby for the first time, I understood why she gave it to me. Love, when given freely, comes back in ways we can’t imagine.