
A woman walked for miles in the middle of a thunderstorm to save her husband, but when she arrived at the service station, the manager refused to help her.
It was a dark and stormy night… Tara Wilson stared out of the service station’s wide window at the pouring rain and sighed. Just then, a streak of lightning flashed across the sky and the sound of thunder split the night.
Night duty at a gas station wasn’t exactly the exciting job Tara had been dreaming of when she went to journalism school, but unfortunately, she’d had to leave college to support her ailing mother. What Tara didn’t know was that the dreary night was about to become a lot more exciting.

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Even as Tara thought about her life, a frail figure was stumbling towards her in the dark, almost bent double against the force of the wind and the driving train. Tara was almost asleep when a gasping voice interrupted her reverie. “Please, oh please…”
Tara, who was seated behind the service station’s counter, jumped to her feet. In front of her, dripping equal portions of rain and mud was an older woman. Her clothes were plastered with oil, dirt, and mud, and dark streaks of makeup ran down her face.
“Ma’am?” Tara gasped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in!”
The woman took another stumbling step forward and held on to the counter with desperate hands. “Please,” she gasped again, “I need your help…”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Oh I’ll just bet you do!” a harsh masculine voice interrupted. It was Tara’s boss, Mr. Anderson, the service station’s night manager who must have heard the woman enter from the back office where he spent his nights online on dubious sites.
Never deny a person in need of help.
“I’ve had enough of you derelicts walking in cadging hot food and coffee every time it rains.” Mr. Anderson snarled. “Get out!”
“Please,” the woman said in a calmer voice, and Tara noticed she had a sweet voice and an educated accent. “I need help, my phone is smashed…”
“Help?” sneered Mr. Anderson. “Did you drive here? Do you need gas? Or motor oil? Do you have money or a credit card?”
“No,” the woman said. “You don’t understand…”
“I understand you just fine.” the manager snarled. “Get out! No car and no money, you get nothing!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The woman pressed her shaking hands together. “My husband and I had a car accident, he’s lying unconscious on the road…All I ask is that you make a phone call!”
Tara made up her mind and stepped forward. “Ma’am, I’ll call 911 for you,” she said. She picked up the receiver of the service station’s landline and dialed. She frowned and picked up her cell phone then shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” she told the woman. “But the storm probably took down the phone lines and the cell tower. Where did you crash?”
The woman’s lips were trembling. “My poor John, oh my poor John…”
Tara came around the counter and put her arm around the woman’s sopping-wet shoulders. “Come on, Ma’am, I’ll drive you to him. We’ll take him to the hospital.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The manager was enraged. “You most certainly will not!” he screamed. “You walk out that door and you’re fired!”
Tara looked at Mr. Anderson and said quietly. “Go ahead, fire me. But I won’t leave a man dying by the roadside.”
“Thank you, my dear,” cried the woman. “My husband is an influential man, you won’t regret this.”
“No matter who your husband is, I won’t regret it, Ma’am,” said Tara as she settled the woman into her car and buckled her seat belt. “My mother always taught us to help whenever we could, no matter who it is.”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
With the woman’s guidance, Tara found the scene of the accident. The car was completely destroyed, and by the side of the road and covered with a blanket was an older man.
“John,” the woman cried kneeling by his side, “I’m here, darling, I found help!” The man opened his eyes and tried to speak, but he was obviously too weak. Tara and the woman managed to get him into her car’s backseat, and they drove to the hospital through the pouring rain.
As soon as the hospital’s staff had the man in hand, Tara asked them to take a look at the woman too, who was shivering from shock and exhaustion, then she allowed herself to sink into one of the waiting room chairs.
A while later, a tall young doctor came over and asked if she had been the one who’d brought the older couple over. “Yes,” Tara said. “Are they alright?”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Thanks to you!” said the doctor with a smile. “Mrs. Smythe told me what you did. Her husband had internal bleeding, and another half an hour would have been too late. We’re also treating Mrs. Smythe for shock and hypothermia.”
“Mrs. Smythe, that’s the lady’s name?” asked Tara. “And they are going to be alright?”
“Yes, you saved their lives,” said the doctor, casting Tara an admiring look. “You’re a hero!”
“No,” said Tara. “Mrs. Smythe is the hero. She walked five miles in the rain to get help for her husband, and she never gave up!”

For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
As it turned out, Mr. Smythe was the owner of the local TV station, and his news team told the story of how Tara lost her job to save two lives. Mr. Anderson was mentioned by name, and his boss fired him for casting the company in a bad light.
When Mr. Smythe discovered that Tara was a semester away from her journalism major, he hired her as a junior reporter. She was earning a lot more than she had at the service station and doing what she loved.
Rumor has it that Tra has been dating a handsome young doctor she met in an emergency room one dark and stormy night, and he might be on the verge of popping the question…
What can we learn from this story?
- Never deny a person in need of help. Mr. Anderson wanted to run Mrs. Smythe off because she was dirty and he thought she was poor and homeless and it ended up costing him his job.
- Life rewards the kindest hearts. Tara risked her job to help Mrs. Smythe but got the job of her dreams and met a wonderful man.
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 man who discovers his youngest son isn’t his and keeps the secret his whole life.
My Son Approached Me, Pale and Holding My Husband’s Laptop – The Discovery He Shared Next Completely Shattered My Reality
Lana always considered herself a grounded person. As a 35-year-old mother and an avid reader of celebrity gossip, she enjoyed the escapism it offered, always with a light-hearted chuckle about how distant those stories were from her own life. Married to Jimmy, her college sweetheart, and mother to their 12-year-old son, Seth, Lana’s days were filled with the ordinary joys and challenges of family life.
However, one seemingly normal Thursday afternoon, Lana’s world was turned upside down, echoing the very gossip narratives she indulged in for entertainment. It all started when Seth, needing to finish a school project, asked to use Jimmy’s laptop because his own was updating. Jimmy, usually meticulous about his personal and work boundaries, had left his laptop at home that day, which Lana thought little of at the time.
As Seth worked at the dining table, he stumbled upon something unexpected. He found a folder not protected by the usual business-related passwords—a folder filled with personal photos that would ignite a storm of betrayal and disbelief within Lana. Concerned by what he saw, Seth called Lana over, his voice tinged with confusion and worry.
The photos Seth uncovered showed Jimmy and Lana’s sister, Maya, in a series of intimate moments—laughing over coffee, an affectionate kiss on the hand, too-close-for-comfort during family gatherings—each image a blow to Lana’s heart. Trying to maintain her composure, Lana assured Seth she would handle the situation and asked him to focus on his homework.
Over the next couple of days, Lana wrestled with her emotions and the crumbling image of her marriage. She decided to keep up appearances until she could confront Jimmy and Maya together, searching for the right moment to seek the truth.
The opportunity came when Maya, unaware of Lana’s discovery, suggested they spend a Saturday together at the spa. Throughout the day, Lana observed Maya, looking for any sign of guilt or confession, but none came. Maya was her usual bubbly self, chatting about work and future plans as if nothing was amiss.
My Son Approached Me, Pale and Holding My Husband’s Laptop – The Discovery He Shared Next Completely Shattered My Reality
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Lana always considered herself a grounded person. As a 35-year-old mother and an avid reader of celebrity gossip, she enjoyed the escapism it offered, always with a light-hearted chuckle about how distant those stories were from her own life. Married to Jimmy, her college sweetheart, and mother to their 12-year-old son, Seth, Lana’s days were filled with the ordinary joys and challenges of family life.
However, one seemingly normal Thursday afternoon, Lana’s world was turned upside down, echoing the very gossip narratives she indulged in for entertainment. It all started when Seth, needing to finish a school project, asked to use Jimmy’s laptop because his own was updating. Jimmy, usually meticulous about his personal and work boundaries, had left his laptop at home that day, which Lana thought little of at the time.
As Seth worked at the dining table, he stumbled upon something unexpected. He found a folder not protected by the usual business-related passwords—a folder filled with personal photos that would ignite a storm of betrayal and disbelief within Lana. Concerned by what he saw, Seth called Lana over, his voice tinged with confusion and worry.
The photos Seth uncovered showed Jimmy and Lana’s sister, Maya, in a series of intimate moments—laughing over coffee, an affectionate kiss on the hand, too-close-for-comfort during family gatherings—each image a blow to Lana’s heart. Trying to maintain her composure, Lana assured Seth she would handle the situation and asked him to focus on his homework.
Over the next couple of days, Lana wrestled with her emotions and the crumbling image of her marriage. She decided to keep up appearances until she could confront Jimmy and Maya together, searching for the right moment to seek the truth.
The opportunity came when Maya, unaware of Lana’s discovery, suggested they spend a Saturday together at the spa. Throughout the day, Lana observed Maya, looking for any sign of guilt or confession, but none came. Maya was her usual bubbly self, chatting about work and future plans as if nothing was amiss.
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That evening, back at Lana’s house, as they sat down for a family dinner—with Jimmy joining after what he claimed was a long day at the office—the tension was palpable to Lana. After the meal, while she was getting dessert, she overheard Maya and Jimmy in the kitchen discussing their situation. Maya’s words, “We can’t keep this from her anymore. It’s wrong,” confirmed the betrayal.
Confronting them then and there, Lana demanded the truth. The explanations that followed were fraught with excuses and apologies. Maya and Jimmy tried to justify their actions, claiming a deep connection that had unintentionally evolved beyond familial bonds. Lana, devastated yet resolute, realized the depth of their betrayal and decided it was time to reevaluate her marriage and her relationship with her sister.
In the weeks that followed, Lana and Jimmy attended counseling sessions, but the trust that had once underpinned their marriage was irreparably damaged. They agreed on a temporary separation, giving each other space to reflect on their future. Seth, deeply hurt by the revelations, struggled to interact with his father, feeling betrayed by the role model he had looked up to.
As Lana navigated through the aftermath of the discovery, she was forced to confront the reality that life could indeed be as unpredictable and dramatic as the stories in her gossip columns. She focused on healing and finding a path forward for herself and Seth, believing in the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of honesty and communication in mending the wounds of betrayal.
This poignant episode in Lana’s life serves as a stark reminder that no one is immune to life’s unexpected turns and that strength often comes from facing harsh truths head-on.
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