He gave crying co-passenger a 'piece of candy' on flight—2 years later, discovered it had actually saved her life
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest acts of kindness that leave the biggest impact. A simple gesture, even from a stranger, can change the course of someone’s life in ways we may never realize. That idea was at the heart of a story that recently went viral on Instagram, reminding people just how powerful quiet compassion can be. A reel, posted by Michael Brown, @yourbestiemisha, shares how a moment of kindness on a flight two years ago ended up saving someone’s life, something he only found out recently.
In the video, he explains how he received a message in his inbox from a random woman who mentioned she had seen him in People magazine and instantly recognized him as the man who saved her life a few years ago. Upon which she decided to reach out to him and thank him for his kindness. He then recalls and shares the details of the incident, mentioning how he was on a plane when he noticed a woman sitting next to him was crying uncontrollably.
Instead of asking questions or trying to start a conversation, Brown understood how the woman was "not in a place to receive" him. So he just let her cry. The flight attendant then brings her cart of snacks to their aisle and offers the woman some options, to which she politely says no. Noticing how the woman's tray table was down, Brown simply reached into his bag and put a pink Starburst candy on the table. "The pink ones are my favorite," he mentions as they make eye contact for a few seconds. She accepted it with a simple thank you but was still in a "messy crying" state, and they didn’t speak during the rest of the flight.
She revealed in the messages she shared with him on Instagram that on the day of their flight, she had decided it was going to be her last day. She had lost hope and didn’t feel like carrying on anymore. But his small gesture, just handing her a piece of candy without expecting anything in return, stuck with her. She wrote that the simple act of being seen and cared for, even by a stranger, helped shift something in her. The woman even wrote a poem about the incident and the humble man who accidentally saved her. "I sat in silence, storm in my chest, a window seat, no will to rest. Tears fell quietly, no one knew, until you smiled, and offered two..."
His story quickly gained attention, with thousands of comments from people moved by the message. Many shared their own experiences of how small moments gave them strength when they needed it most, while others commented with messages appreciating the warm gesture of Brown. @mrstrask19 wrote, "This is so absolutely beautiful. The perfect example of why simple kindness to strangers is so important." @theericadani exclaimed, "Wow! This is truly incredible. I have goosebumps." @chatterbox55 commented, "Just be kind. That’s just all everyone needs to do. Just be kind. It costs absolutely nothing to just be kind. Not only to others but to yourself as well! Have a beautiful day."
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For more inspiring content, follow @yourbestiemisha on their official Instagram account.
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)