…Later at home, I found a small piece of paper tucked inside that said:

“I was you once. Scared, judged, and unsure how I’d make it through. But I did. And you will too. Don’t let anyone make you feel small—you’re already doing something incredible. One day, you’ll look back and realize how strong you really are. Keep going.  — M.”

I stared at the note, my hands shaking. All day I’d been weighed down by stares and whispered comments. But this—this felt like a lifeline.

I never saw the woman again. But I kept that note in my wallet, right next to my baby’s first photo. Every time I felt like giving up, I’d read her words again.

And now, years later, with my daughter in my arms and my head held high, I find myself handing a folded bill to another young girl who looks like I once did.

Inside it, a new note reads:

“I was you once. Scared. But never alone.”