It was a cold, snowy night when George Harris, a bus driver, was finishing his shift. The snow was falling in thick gusts, making visibility difficult and delaying every stop. George was eager to end the day because that night he would meet his fiancée Angelica Westerly’s parents.

When the bus stopped at another stop, an elderly woman climbed aboard with difficulty. She wore a long dark coat and carried a heavy bag. As she approached George, she nervously began rummaging through her bag.
“Good afternoon,” she said with a sweet smile. “Sorry, it seems my wallet has fallen to the bottom of my bag…”
George rolled his eyes. He knew he was late, and every second counted.
“Can you hurry up? I don’t have all day!”
The woman kept searching, pulling out a hairbrush, a foldable umbrella, and a cereal bar. “I went to town to buy an engagement gift for my granddaughter. I think I lost my wallet… Oh no! My phone is missing too!”
George sighed impatiently. “Look, lady, either you pay the fare or get off the bus. I don’t have time for stories!”
“Please,” the woman pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. “I recently had knee surgery, I can’t walk far…”
“That’s your problem! Get off my bus!” George shouted.
The elderly woman stuffed her belongings back into her bag and stepped off the bus with difficulty. George watched her through the rearview mirror as she stood in the cold, looking lost and helpless. For a brief moment, he felt a pang of guilt, but he quickly remembered his commitment.
Hours later, George arrived at the elegant Westerly family home. Angelica warmly welcomed him, but he couldn’t help but notice a slight tension in the air. Soon, he was introduced to Angelica’s mother, Meredith, who began showing him around the house.
That’s when George saw something that froze him in place: a framed photo on the mantelpiece showed the elderly woman he had thrown off the bus.
“Who is this woman?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“That’s my mother-in-law, Angelica’s grandmother,” Meredith replied. “She had a terrible scare today. She lost her wallet and was thrown off a bus by a cruel driver…”
Before George could say anything, the front door opened, and a man entered accompanied by the elderly woman. It was her, the same woman he had treated so poorly.
“Grandma Millie!” Angelica exclaimed, running to hug her.
The elderly woman looked up and immediately recognized George. “You! You’re the driver! You left me out in the cold today!”
Angelica’s face turned pale. “George… is this true?”
George tried to justify himself, but the words came out clumsily. “I… I didn’t know… I was late…”
Angelica removed the engagement ring from her finger and placed it in George’s hand. “If you were capable of treating my grandmother like that, I can’t imagine how you’d treat a stranger. I can’t marry you.”
George stood frozen. He tried to apologize, but it was too late. As the snow continued to fall outside, he left the house with tears in his eyes, realizing that his impatience and lack of compassion had cost him not only his pride but also the love of his life.
Kindness costs nothing, but a lack of it can cost everything. Never underestimate the impact your actions can have on others’ lives—and on your own. Be kind, always.