I had picked up a box of books at work when my back just went – I have never experienced pain like that in my life. I was off work for weeks, consumed by the agony of it and barely able to move. In desperation, I tried every treatment I could – massage, physiotherapy, herbal compresses. You name it, I’d given it a go.

On one such Hail Mary mission I went to a back pain clinic, where my lower back was injected with anaesthetic. The treatment was so painful, I left the clinic in tears. I remember walking out in such a state and thinking, “How am I even going to get myself home?” As I stumbled along, it occurred to me that I needed something to calm myself down. Spotting a chocolate shop, I stepped inside.

I must have looked absolutely awful because the guy behind the counter took one look at me and asked what was wrong. Sobbing, I told him about my ordeal. He sat me down and made me a beautiful hot chocolate, served on a plate with some lovely chocolates.

It worked – the hot, frothy drink proved a balm and helped me compose myself. When I went to pay, the man said: “No, it’s on me. I’ve had back pain before, and I know what it’s like.”

To have someone meet me with such empathy when I was at my lowest stuck with me. He didn’t just shout me a drink, he made me feel understood and seen.

This painful afternoon was many decades ago now. My back eventually came good, but even after all this time I’ve never forgotten that man, or how much the simplest gestures can mean when you see someone in distress.

What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

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