“Strangers saved me and my son’s lives.”

As BuzzFeed's politics lead, my job is to do the doomscrolling for you.

"We walked passed the bathrooms and were about to enter an elevator. A man watched this interaction and alerted my mother. 'Lady do you know her? She’s taking your daughter!' And they intervened right on time. The lady acted confused and hurried away. I most likely would’ve been a victim of human trafficking."

"Out of nowhere, I got hugged by a total stranger and she whispered, 'I got you, just follow my lead' and screamed 'JESSIE, there you are, I was looking for you! How's it going, girl? You want to sit over there?' and just dragged me away from the weirdo who looked perplexed, but had thankfully given up and left. She sat with me for a bit to make sure I was ok and that dude had indeed taken off. I have made a mental note to always pay attention in public now because of her, in case this is needed for another woman. ALWAYS."

"She stayed with me and acted as if we were together as I finished shopping and cashed out. She walked to my car with me. The man followed closely behind and stood against a car in the parking lot watching us. We both got in our vehicles and left at the same time. I don't know what he had planned but that lady was an angel."

"He backed off and the cops did show up (along with a friend whom I called earlier) after I drove off a few blocks down to wait for them. Shout out to that neighbor lady, hope she's having a blessed life."

"After being told to let the staff do their job and basically sit down and shut up, the mother approached me and my partner, and told us to leave and go to Boston to an emergency room there right away. We listened, and, as it turned out, I was in heart failure, which was causing fluid to build up in my chest and suffocating me and my son. They told me when I got there if I had arrived even 30 minutes later, no intervention efforts would have saved either of us. The damage to my heart was so bad I was hospitalized for 4 weeks and my son was delivered 4 lbs 3 Oz, 8 weeks early. He was in the NICU for two weeks and PICU for two weeks before they released us both just before Christmas. Not only did those people in the waiting room save my life – especially that wonderful woman – but the doctor who delivered my son came in on her vacation week to operate because they knew she was my only shot at survival. They told my partner and family one of us would more than likely die in the process, our odds were VERY low. That doctor came in at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning, on her own time, and stayed and checked on me and did my postpartum care for the rest of the week. Strangers saved me and my son’s lives."

"On the next block I saw some pay phones and stopped and acted like I was calling someone. The man pulled over and stopped his car. I was terrified cause I didn't know what I was going to do. Out of nowhere this tiny woman with a knife came up to me just as the guy was crossing the street. She asked me if he was following me, I told her yes. She asked me where I lived and I told her a couple blocks away. So she walked me home. The guy sped off. We didn't see him the rest of the way home."

"One lady who had just started her daily walk around the park found me and was so kind. I explained my situation and that I couldn't make it the four blocks I had left and that I was concerned about my bike because it was my only mode of transportation. She walked to her house and came back with her SUV and some water. She put my Schwinn in her car and drove me home. Don't know what would have happened if she hadn't stopped and I passed out again. While she was helping me we found out that I played with her granddaughter as a kid! Small world, sweet lady."

"She was in a confused state but I could tell she did not want to answer him. After the fourth or fifth time he checked on her and asked AGAIN if she truly lives alone, I snapped. The room door was propped open so I hollered loud as I could, 'NOT APPROPRIATE SIR! YOU ARE SEXUALLY HARASSING THIS WOMAN!' Zero f*cks. Reported him to my nurse. We never saw him again. I’ve been a construction worker for 20 years I know a creeper when I see one."

"Two random men smoking on the other side of the street saved me. One ran after the man yelling at him to leave me alone and saying that he was going to beat his ass if he touched me, and the other wrapped his jacket around me and walked me into the nearby donut shop until the man was gone. They both then walked me to my apartment and made sure my door was locked and I had waved at them from my window before they went back to their night. Wherever they are, I hope they are happy!"

"The only place we could find was a pub, so we pushed the car into their car park and then I rang my dad from the pub’s pay phone, and his response was ‘So?’ before hanging up... Well, the landlady of the pub overheard my conversation and offered their caravan for us to sleep in for the night. Then in the morning, they gave us a full English breakfast whilst their son fixed car. They wouldn’t take a penny off us and we ended up getting on so well that they wanted us to stay for the next night."

"This older gentleman came out on the porch where it was happening and he just said, ‘Son, if you want to walk out of here I suggest you do it now, that’s my daughter.’ There was an awkward standoff and the older man got the guy kicked out of the bar. The man then asked me if I was okay and said, ‘You remind me of my daughter and I would want someone to step in for her if she was ever in that situation.'"

"A woman and her husband saw us. She immediately came to my side and her husband stood in between us. She asked me if I was ok and told my boyfriend to leave. Her husband said, 'You're not getting past me so go cool off somewhere.' My boyfriend and I broke up after that trip but I’m so thankful that this couple cared about my safety."

"He always stood outside while I cleaned up, and would wait for my mom to pick me up before he went back to his regular post. He even offered me his coat on several occasions when it got cold. That man didn't have to do any of those things, but I understood he was looking out for me and truly appreciated knowing someone was nearby after nearly being assaulted."

"Instead I made my way to the girl and her friend and greeted them as if we’ve known each other for years. I very quickly informed her what I heard, and at that moment a waiter came over with a drink 'on the house' that she didn’t order. She and her friend immediately asked for a manager, and I relayed everything to that person and security. It was very discreetly handled, and she couldn’t stop thanking me. I was doing what I hoped any woman would do for another woman." 

"She told me to stay where I was and she came back with anti-nausea medication and a Sprite for me. She gave me her name and the store she worked at and she told me to come down and see her if any trouble started and she’d notify TSA immediately. I can’t remember her name, but I will never forget her kindness. I still think about her. It was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me."

"Out of nowhere, a woman came, put her arm through mine, and said, 'Oh, there you are! I've been looking for you.' She grabbed me and pushed her way through the man. I was still in shock and didn't fully process what had just happened. She asked if I was okay and if I needed her to stay with me or call someone. I said I was OK, and she dropped me off in front of The Bean. I didn't get her name, and I couldn't mutter more than a thank you. However, I think about her all the time and am still grateful she intervened."

"But instead, it was one of the store employees, a young guy about my age still wearing his badge and apron, and he said that his (female) manager had noticed the guy following me in the store and had sent him to help me if I needed it. As soon as he showed up, the creep disappeared, and the store checker walked me home. That was more than 30 years ago, and I will forever be grateful to both of those store employees for saving me."