Jude clutched his worn brown file as he hurried toward the bus station.
His shoes were fading, his shirt had been ironed too many times, and his eyes… they carried the weight of a life that had collapsed too quickly.
Today was supposed to be his chance.
His one shot to turn everything around.
“God,” he whispered, “please let today be my lucky day.”
Just a year ago, Jude had everything.
A good job as a prochemical engineer.
A comfortable apartment.
A car.
A wife he adored — Lucy.
But when his company went bankrupt, his whole world fell apart with it.
No matter how many CVs he submitted, no matter how many offices he walked into, nobody called back.
Bills stacked up.
Savings vanished.
His wife grew colder and harsher by the day.
“You said things would get better last month!” Lucy would yell.
“You said it again last week! I’m tired, Jude. I’m TIRED.”
He sold his car.
He sold their furniture.
They moved to a tiny, forgotten part of the city.
Still, nothing changed.
That very morning, Jude had woken up to another storm of insults.
But then…
His phone rang.
It was a company calling to schedule an interview — a real job, a real chance.
Lucy’s voice rose: “You better come back today with GOOD NEWS. I can’t live like this anymore.”
And so Jude left home with hope squeezed tightly between fear and desperation.
The Roadside Stranger
The wind was strong that morning, pushing dust and leaves across the road. Jude walked quickly, checking the time every few seconds. If he missed his bus, he’d miss the interview.
He was almost at the station when he heard it:
“Help! Please! Someone help me!”
He turned.
On the opposite side of the road, a woman stood beside a black SUV, its hood smoking.
She waved desperately at passing cars, but everyone ignored her.
Jude hesitated.
He did not have time for this.
One delay, and his life might remain broken forever.
“Please!” the woman cried again. “My baby is sick — I need to get her to the clinic!”
Jude felt his chest tighten.
He looked at the time.
He looked at the woman.
He looked at the bus approaching in the distance.
Then he closed his eyes and whispered:
“God… let me do the right thing.”
He ran toward the woman.
A Decision That Cost Him Everything
Jude rolled up his sleeves.
“Pop the hood,” he said.
The woman stared at him with desperate hope. “Can you fix it?”
“I’ll try.”
Rain began to fall.
Cold wind beat against them.
Jude’s shirt got soaked.
His file softened under the drizzle.
But he didn’t stop.
Twenty minutes later, the engine coughed, sputtered…
And roared back to life.
The woman gasped. “You fixed it!”
Jude smiled weakly.
But when he checked his watch, his stomach dropped.
He had missed the bus.
By the time he reached the interview location, the receptionist gave him an apologetic look:
“Sir… the panel has already left.”
Jude stood there, soaked and defeated.
Everything he’d hoped for slipped through his fingers.
The Phone Call That Changed His Life
That evening, Jude returned home.
Lucy didn’t even let him speak.
“YOU MISSED IT?” she screamed.
“You missed the ONLY interview you’ve had in months? For WHAT?”
Jude tried to explain, but Lucy didn’t want explanations.
“I’m leaving,” she said coldly.
“You’re nothing but a failure.”
She packed her bag and walked out.
Jude sat alone in the silence.
His heart felt like wet ashes.
Then…
His phone rang.
He almost didn’t answer — he had no strength left.
“Hello?” he whispered.
A woman’s voice answered.
“Is this Jude? The man who helped me on the roadside this morning?”
Jude blinked.
“Yes… it’s me.”
There was a pause.
Then she said:
“Jude… I am Mrs. Eleanor Grant.”
He froze.
Eleanor Grant? The CEO of Grant & Parker Industries?
One of the wealthiest women in the city?
“I’m the woman whose car you fixed,” she continued softly.
“The ‘sick baby’ I mentioned is actually my granddaughter. You helped us reach the hospital in time. I will never forget that.”
Jude’s mouth went dry.
“I also heard you missed a job interview because of me,” she said.
“My assistant told me you’re an engineer.”
Jude swallowed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well,” she said, “I need someone like you. Someone skilled. Someone honest. Someone who chooses kindness even when it costs him everything.”
Jude couldn’t breathe.
“Come to my office tomorrow morning,” she said warmly.
“No interview. No competition.
The job is yours.”
Jude closed his eyes as tears fell down his cheeks.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“No,” Eleanor replied. “Thank you. Men like you are rare.”
A New Beginning
The next day, Jude walked into her company.
He was hired as the senior engineer — with a salary higher than any job he had ever applied for.
Months later, he restored his life.
He bought a new apartment.
He found peace again.
And his heart healed not because he got a job…
…but because he discovered that even in his lowest moment, he still chose kindness.
And kindness found its way back to him.