I’ve temporarily run out of stories to tell, so I’ve put out a call for you to share your stories here. If you have a story to share, please let me know! Today’s story — uncut and unedted — is from Natasha Tourabi. It’s a perfect reminder that there is kindness in this world, hidden away where we least expect it.

This story is a few years old but one that is always on my mind, perhaps because part of it remains a mystery…

After finishing school, I took a year off and spent half of it working back home in Grenoble, in France and saved up all my money to spend the other half volunteering in India.

I did all sorts of boring jobs so to keep going until the departure date I decided to keep a bit of money to treat myself to something nice now and again. My special treat consisted of afternoons spent drinking teas of unusual flavours and savouring delicate chocolate cakes while writing in a fancy tea and cake shop.

One afternoon, one of the waitresses came to see me to say that the man who had just left had paid for my bill. I looked at her slightly confused. She reiterated and realising that I looked even more surprised, she asked me: “Don’t you know him?”

No, I did not know the man who had just left after paying for my bill. I vaguely knew who she was talking about because there were only three of us sat in that tea shop at that time. While I had not paid particular attention to this man, I was aware of his presence but no more than the other person sat at another table.

The waitress returned to her counter and let me deal with my confusion. All sorts of questions sprang through my mind as I was trying to make sense of the situation… Did I know him? Did he know me? Why did he pay? What did he want? When I came to that question my confusion turned into worry… I was worried about what he wanted. Surely a man who pays for a stranger’s bill, especially a female, wants something from her… I was convinced he would be waiting for me outside.

I wanted to stay longer to that he would get bored of waiting outside and eventually leave. But I had to leave too. I nervously and slowly headed towards the exit, imagining what he would say, imagining how I would respond. When I stepped out, the man was nowhere to be seen. I carefully looked all around me, expecting him to pop up from any corner within seconds… But he never did.

The man simply wanted to pay for my bill. He did not know me, but he knew enough about the happiness that comes with unexpected kindness. He did not have any expectations from me apart from I suppose hoping that his gesture would make me smile. He did not give me a chance to thank him but he gave me a chance to remember that we are free to be kind to each other… and that the most generous gifts are full of surprises and free from expectations. But I wish I could thank him…

Thanks to Natasha for today’s story. Have a story to tell? I’ve run out, so please share your own!