12 True Stories of Strangers Who Left a Lasting Impression on People

Sometimes, a seemingly ordinary day can take an unexpected twist because of a stranger. In this collection, you’ll find real-life moments that vary from heartwarming and magical to strange, awkward, or even unsettling. These brief encounters — whether funny, touching, or tense — felt like something straight out of a movie. They serve as a reminder that even the people we don’t know can leave an impact on our day in ways we never saw coming.

• I’m sitting on the bus, surrounded by empty seats, but a man decides to sit next to me. He keeps staring at me. The bus pulls off, and it’s going to be an hour ride. Then, he starts stroking my arm. I move away and sit back down, but he follows me. I move again, and he sits in the seat in front of me, still staring.
  I take out my earpiece, tell him to back off, and not to bother me. He smirks and says, “How unapproachable women are these days.”
  Just then, a girl sitting not far away stands up, moves over to sit next to me, and tells the man to shut up — otherwise, he won’t have enough teeth left. The guy is stunned and jumps up, leaving the bus. Big thanks to Vicky!

• In a department store dressing room, I stepped out to check the mirror and nearly collided with a woman standing too close. She stared at me, her head tilted, and said, “You’re not supposed to be here.” At first, I thought she was joking, but her tone was flat. She whispered, “This was my day.”
  Then she walked into her own fitting room and slammed the door. I waited a bit, confused and unsettled, but when I peeked in, the room was empty. I left the store with chills crawling up my spine.
• I got stuck in an elevator with a man who immediately panicked. I tried to stay calm, but he started pacing and muttering about how “they were probably watching him.” He looked me in the eyes and said, “I knew this would happen. This is punishment.”
  I wasn’t sure if he was just scared or seriously unwell. For twenty-five minutes, we sat in silence, except for the occasional whisper from him. When the doors finally opened, he ran out without a word. I never took that elevator again.
• I was 8 months pregnant, on a tram. A woman stepped in holding a baby and a large bag. She looked drained. No one moved, so I gave her my seat. She gave me a strange glance.
  When she got off, she slipped something wet into my bag. I felt sick as I pulled it out — this woman had given me a pacifier, cracked and chewed, with a note folded around it. The note read: “Don’t be a hero. No one claps for mothers falling apart.”
  It stunned me. I didn’t know whether to feel offended or warned. She didn’t see kindness — she saw another woman heading toward burnout, like her.
  That day, I realized not every mother wants to be seen as strong. Some just want to survive. And I promised myself I wouldn’t lose who I am, trying to prove I could handle everything.

• When I was overweight, I was just starting to work out somewhat regularly. Being overweight at the gym felt terrible — I have never felt more eyes on me before in my life.
  I was on a treadmill, grinding out some inclined walk/light jogging, and a super fit girl got on the machine next to me. She did a short warm-up, and before she got off the treadmill, she turned to me and gave me a high five and told me to keep it up.
  It was so encouraging to have that support, when I was used to getting stared at by everyone else in the gym. Her small, kind gesture went a long way. © FishNchips72 / Reddit
• After the pool, I’m in the locker room drying off. With water in my ears, I can’t hear much. An elderly man next to me says something, but I just keep drying myself off. He says it again. Still wiping my armpits and crotch, I ask, “What?” And then he calmly replies, “You took my towel.”
• I got into a cab late at night, and from the start, the driver had an off vibe. He started asking weird questions like, “Do you live alone?” and “Would anyone be waiting for you?” My gut told me something wasn’t right.
  When I asked him to drop me off early at a gas station, he refused, saying, “We’re almost there anyway.” I ended up yelling at him to stop the car, threatening to call the police. He finally pulled over. I got out and ran. I still wonder what might have happened if I hadn’t trusted my instincts.

• Years ago, I was at the bus stop super early one morning. There was a guy that I used to see every time I would get the 7am bus. We were on “nodding terms.”
  One morning, there was a fireball/disintegrating meteor. We both saw it, he turned to me and said with a super serious face, “You know our souls are forever linked now.”
  We went back to nodding terms, and I never saw him after I quit early morning classes. I guess because I do remember it and he was right. © Unknown author / Reddit
• This was about 2 years ago, when I was in university. I was having some gas pains, so I went to use the bathroom. I was the only one in there, but someone came in shortly after, so I decided to wait until she was done. She apparently was in the same situation as me, so we were both just sitting in silence, waiting for the other to leave, occasionally letting out tiny toots.
  Finally, she says, “Can we both just fart?” I laugh and say, “Yes, please!” And for about a minute after, both of us are simultaneously laughing and farting. Laughing because we’re farting, and farting because we’re laughing.
  We finished at about the same time and said “hello” as we washed our hands. I never saw her again. I still giggle every time I think of it. © CocoaAndToast / Reddit
• A little girl approached me in a coffee shop, handed me a drawing of a cat, and said, “You looked like you needed something nice.” I smiled and thanked her. Her mom mouthed, “Sorry!” But that random drawing is still on my fridge.

• When I was in elementary school, I fell through ice. A man who was walking his dog saw me fall and rushed to the shore. I frantically swam back to the shore, I was only about 5 meters in to the pond so it wasn’t a long way, but it took some with soaked winter clothes.
  When I reached the shore, the man pulled me up by my jacket. It would’ve been difficult to get up, as there was a steep incline. I didn’t thank him, because I was in shock, but I bet he knows I was grateful, and 20 years later I still hope I would have thanked him. © Omenaa / Reddit
• We’re riding the bus with a friend, standing on the back platform. She is over 180 cm tall, with arms as long as Shaquille O’Neal’s. At one stop, a heavily pregnant woman tries to board. Suddenly, time seems to slow — she slips and tumbles toward the bus steps, landing belly-first.
  Then, like something out of a movie, my friend dives to the floor, slipping but stretching out those long arms just in time. She catches the woman under her arms, saving her at the very last second.
  The bus erupts in applause. The woman and her unexpected savior both break down in tears.

The modern world can be harsh, and from a young age, we’re taught to be wary of strangers. But life isn’t always so simple; sometimes, strangers can offer help and even transform lives for the better.