After returning home from a month-long vacation, a woman wakes up the next morning to discover a stranger sleeping on her couch

Megan was thirty-four, never married, had no kids, and worked a demanding job as a producer. She was tired of hearing questions about her personal life from her mother, but deep down, she knew her mother was right—it was time to change something. Little did she know, the change would find her first.

It was a late evening, and Megan was driving home after a long, exhausting month of what was supposed to be a vacation.

Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she chatted on the phone with her mother, Dina. The road ahead was quiet, with only the faint glow of the car’s headlights cutting through the darkness.

Despite the peace outside, Megan felt anything but relaxed.

“Megan, I don’t understand how you can go on vacation and still work the entire time!” her mother’s voice echoed through the car’s speaker. The concern in Dina’s tone was unmistakable.

“You’re always on your phone, always busy. You’re 34 years old, dear. When are you going to start focusing on yourself, on your personal life?”

Megan rolled her eyes, though she knew her mother couldn’t see her. A hint of frustration crept into her voice.

“Mom, I didn’t have much choice. Things never go as planned at work, and as a producer, my attention is needed constantly. You know that.”

Dina, persistent as always, wasn’t ready to let the conversation drop.

“But when will I get to see grandchildren? You’re too focused on your career, and I’m worried you’ll never settle down. Don’t you want a family someday?”

Megan sighed, gripping the wheel a little tighter as she tried to keep calm. She loved her mother, but this conversation was becoming all too familiar.

“Mom, I really can’t talk about this right now,” she said, faking a crackle in her voice. “The signal’s bad. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

Before Dina could continue, Megan quickly ended the call, feigning static noises to make it seem like the connection had failed.

She glanced down at the phone and let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Pulling into her driveway, Megan parked the car and stared at her house for a moment.

She felt drained, both from the conversation with her mother and from the past few weeks.

What was supposed to be a restful vacation had turned into yet another working trip, with her phone constantly buzzing with problems at work.

For the entire month, she hadn’t been able to fully unplug. She didn’t even know what “rest” meant anymore.

After grabbing her bags from the trunk, Megan walked inside her dimly lit house, too tired to bother turning on all the lights.

She set her bags down by the door and paused for a moment. Something felt off. Glancing around, she noticed that one of the windows on the first floor was slightly open.

Puzzled, she tried to remember if she had left it like that before leaving for her trip. She shrugged it off, assuming she had simply forgotten to close it. It had been a busy month, after all.

Megan shut the window, turned off the last light on the first floor, and headed upstairs.

She barely had the energy to change into her pajamas. She kicked off her shoes, not even bothering to check if everything was in order.

Without thinking, she collapsed into her bed, letting her head sink into the pillow.

The familiar comfort of her bed was a relief, and within moments, Megan was fast asleep, her mind already letting go of the chaos of the day.

Little did she know that tomorrow would bring an unexpected surprise—one she never could have anticipated.

The next morning, Megan was jolted awake by the buzzing of her phone. Half-asleep, she groaned as she answered it, recognizing the overly enthusiastic voice of her assistant, Lisa.

Lisa’s high-pitched chatter filled her ears, rattling off a long list of meetings and tasks for the day at a speed that made Megan’s head spin.

“Lisa, please… slow down,” Megan mumbled, trying to focus as she stumbled out of bed. She held the phone between her ear and shoulder while getting dressed, lazily brushing her teeth, and starting her coffee machine.

The warmth of the coffee was barely hitting her system when something made her stop mid-sip—loud snoring coming from the living room.

Her body tensed as her brain struggled to process what she was hearing. Who is in my house?

“Lisa, I’ll have to call you back,” she said abruptly, hanging up the phone before Lisa could respond. Heart racing, Megan cautiously walked toward the living room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Peeking inside, she couldn’t believe her eyes. A man—fully dressed with boots still on—was sprawled across her couch, snoring loudly.

Dirty footprints trailed from the window she had closed the night before to where the man now lay. Megan’s mind raced with questions. Who is this guy? How did he get in?

Her eyes narrowed, and without thinking twice, she darted to the kitchen, grabbing the nearest weapon she could find: a broom.

She marched back to the living room and jabbed the man with the handle.

He stirred, groggy and confused, blinking as he rubbed his eyes.

“Who are you?” Megan demanded, doing her best to keep her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest.

The man, still half-asleep, sat up slowly. “Uh… I’m George,” he muttered, his words slurring together. “How did I get here?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing!” Megan snapped, frustration mixing with confusion. “Why are you on my couch?”

George blinked, clearly disoriented, as he looked around. “I don’t remember much… I was out with some friends, and then… nothing. I guess I drank too much.”

Megan sniffed the air and immediately recognized the stale scent of alcohol. It didn’t take long to piece together what had happened—George had been blackout drunk and somehow ended up in her house.

Her anger started to fade, replaced with a mix of disbelief and reluctant sympathy.

“Well, you’re lucky I didn’t call the police,” she said, setting down the broom. “Take these.”

She handed him a bottle of aspirin and watched as he gratefully swallowed a couple of pills.

“I need to leave for work, but this time make sure you use the door when you go. Not the window.”

George, still looking sheepish, nodded. “Thank you… and I’m really sorry.”

Megan sighed. “Just… don’t make a habit of it.” With that, she grabbed her things and headed out the door, leaving George to process his own mess.

That evening, Megan drove home after a long, exhausting day at work. Her eyes felt heavy, her body sore from sitting in meetings and staring at screens for hours. Her stomach growled in protest, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything substantial all day.

There hadn’t been a single free moment to stop for groceries, and she sighed at the thought of coming home to an empty fridge.

As Megan walked into the house, she froze. The familiar smell of her dim living room was replaced by something unexpected—the soft glow of candles flickered around the room, casting a warm, inviting light.

The dining table, which she had left bare that morning, was now set with plates, silverware, and an array of delicious-smelling dishes.

At the center of it all stood George, looking slightly awkward and sheepish but also determined. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he saw her expression.

“What is this?” Megan asked, her voice a mixture of shock and confusion.

George shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“I… I felt really bad about what happened this morning,” he explained, his voice soft. “So I cleaned up the mess I made, and I wanted to cook you dinner. You know, to make it up to you.”

Megan blinked, still processing the scene before her. She had expected to come home, collapse onto the couch, and figure out how to deal with her hunger.

Instead, she found this—a stranger who had passed out on her couch that morning, now standing in her living room with an entire meal prepared.

“You didn’t have to do this,” she said, still a bit in disbelief.

“I know,” George replied, “but I wanted to. It’s the least I could do after… well, everything.” He offered a small, apologetic smile.

George began to gather his things, ready to leave and give her space, but Megan stopped him.

“Wait,” she said softly, not wanting him to rush off just yet.”

You’ve already gone through all this trouble to make such a nice dinner. Stay and have it with me. I can’t eat all of this by myself, anyway.”

George hesitated, his uncertainty clear.

“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Megan smiled warmly, her exhaustion from the day fading just a little. “Yes, I’m sure. Besides, it would be nice to have some company.”

They both sat down at the table, and as the scent of the warm food filled the air, Megan couldn’t help but feel a surprising sense of calm.

The hectic day seemed to slip away, replaced by an evening of unexpected comfort.

They sat down at the table, the soft glow of the candles creating a peaceful atmosphere. As they began to eat, the earlier tension seemed to melt away with each bite.

George, now more comfortable, started telling Megan about his wild night out with friends. He laughed as he explained how too much fun and a little too much to drink had led him to her couch, of all places.

“I honestly didn’t even realize I wasn’t home until I woke up this morning,” George chuckled, shaking his head.

“And when I saw you standing there with a broom, I thought I was in serious trouble.”

Megan couldn’t help but laugh along, her earlier frustration fading with each word.

The stress she had carried home after a long day at work seemed to vanish, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a meal and a conversation with someone who made her laugh. It felt like a break from the routine, like a breath of fresh air.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Megan felt completely relaxed. George was easy to talk to, and the conversation flowed naturally. They joked, swapped stories, and enjoyed the food he had so thoughtfully prepared.

Saleslady Kicks Poor Old Woman Out of Luxury Store, Cop Brings Her Back Later – Story of the Day

Kerry didn’t have much money as she lived on her pension. But she wanted to buy a dress for her granddaughter Anne’s prom. At a luxury store, saleslady Sandra greeted her but couldn’t disguise her prejudices, as Kerry didn’t look like her regular customers. She drove Kerry away, but someone stepped up to help.

“Grandma, I don’t care about prom! Really. I just want to stay home and watch movies with Mom,” Kerry’s granddaughter, Anne, said through the phone.

Kerry had called her to talk about her graduation from Strawberry Crest High School in Tampa, Florida, was coming up, and prom was right around the corner. But the older woman was surprised when her granddaughter assured her that she didn’t want to go. She claimed to not care about the event, but Kerry knew the truth.

Kerry went to a luxury store to find a dress for Anne. | Source: Shutterstock

Kerry went to a luxury store to find a dress for Anne. | Source: Shutterstock

Her daughter, Lisa, worked minimum wage, and Kerry lived on her pension alone. None of them had enough money to buy Anne a proper dress for the prom. The 18-year-old felt embarrassed about it.

“Ma’am. Are you ok? Can I help you with anything?” a kind male voice asked.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go? You know I went to the prom with your grandfather. He asked me out of the blue, and we got married a few months later. We loved each other until the day he died, and I still miss him every day. The prom can change your life,” Kerry insisted, her voice cheerful as she tried to convince her to go.

“I know, Grandma. But still. I don’t want to go. Also, I don’t have a date either, so it doesn’t matter. Listen, I have to go study, I still have a few finals left. Talk to you later!” Anne said and hung up the phone too quickly for Kerry’s comfort.

Therefore, the older woman decided something. She was saving a bit of her pension every single month to cover her funeral costs so that Lisa would not have to worry about anything expensive. But there was something more pressing right now.

The saleswoman greeted her but her attitude changed for some reason. | Source: Pexels

The saleswoman greeted her but her attitude changed for some reason. | Source: Pexels

She wanted to buy a dress for her granddaughter. Anne deserved it. She was a brilliant kid who worked hard at school. It wasn’t her fault that they lived in poverty most of the time, and Kerry would convince her to go to the prom in a lovely dress.

The following day, she went to the mall and found a beautiful boutique full of amazing dresses. She entered, and her eyes widened at the sparkle. “What would Anne like?” she asked herself, touching one gown closest to her.

“Hello! My name is Sandra. How may I help you… ugh… today?” a saleslady approached Kerry, but she stumbled on her words for some reason. The woman looked up and down at Kerry and her mouth twisted strangely.

“Hi there! I’m looking for a dress for my granddaughter. Her prom is coming up,” Kerry explained, smiling at the woman despite her weird demeanor.

“I’m sorry. This is not a rental store. You have to buy these dresses in full,” Sandra said, linking her hands together.

But Kerry had no idea what she was talking about. “I know that. But can you show me some of the most popular models?”

Kerry realized what the saleslady was implying. | Source: Pexels

Kerry realized what the saleslady was implying. | Source: Pexels

“Well, the most popular are pretty pricey. In fact, the entire store might not be in your price range. Perhaps you could go to Target for it?” Sandra suggested, and Kerry finally realized the woman’s attitude. She didn’t think Kerry could afford anything and shouldn’t be shopping at that store.

She was offended immediately but didn’t want to say anything and cause a scene. She continued walking around the store, with Sandra following. “I’m just going to browse around, okay?” Kerry said, trying to get the woman off her back.

“Listen, you can really get nice things at Target in your price range. This is simply too much,” Sandra continued, crossing her arms. “Also, we have cameras everywhere. You won’t be able to stash anything in that ugly old bag of yours.”

Kerry finally turned around to face the rude saleslady, and her eyes widened. Sandra smirked cattily at her, daring her to do something. But she had never been a confrontational person, so she rushed out of the store, ashamed, and tears streamed down her face.

A police officer asked what was wrong. | Source: Unsplash

A police officer asked what was wrong. | Source: Unsplash

She was right outside the mall when she dropped her bag accidentally, and for some reason, that made her break down even more. After being humiliated by the woman, she cried heavily, but something touched her shoulder.

“Ma’am. Are you ok? Can I help you with anything?” a kind male voice asked, and Kerry lifted her head to stare at a young cop, who tried to get her to stand up straight. He leaned down to pick up her purse and gave her a dazzling smile.

“Oh, thank you, officer,” Kerry said, grabbing the bag and composing herself.

“Well, I’m still an apprentice. I’m only 20, but I’ll be an official officer soon enough,” the young man answered humorously. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“Well, it’s a bit silly…,” the older woman began. Something about his face made her want to talk about it. He was frowning heavily by the time she finished.

“That’s preposterous! How can a salesperson treat you like that?” he said.

“What’s your name, young man?”

He ushered her back to the store and talked to the manager. | Source: Pexels

He ushered her back to the store and talked to the manager. | Source: Pexels

“George Martins,” he answered and looked toward the mall doors. “Look, my mentor came here for coffee. But we have time to choose a dress. Let’s go!”

Kerry wanted to refuse, but George pulled her along towards the luxury boutique. Sandra spotted her immediately.

“I thought I told you to leave… oh, officer. What’s going on?” Sandra asked, changing her tune as soon as she saw the cop with Kerry.

“We came here for a dress, and we’re not leaving without one,” George stated, and he gestured for Kerry to continue shopping. He also complained to Sandra’s manager while the older woman looked for a dress.

After a few minutes, she finally chose something beautiful for prom, and George even paid for half of it despite Kerry’s objections. But it wasn’t that expensive because the store offered ended up offering them a discount due to the complaint George raised against them. They heard the manager scolding Sandra while leaving.

Anne looked beautiful in her dress but lamented not having a date. | Source: Unsplash

Anne looked beautiful in her dress but lamented not having a date. | Source: Unsplash

George accompanied Kerry out of the mall and bid her goodbye. But Kerry couldn’t let such a wonderful young man go just like that. “George, do you have any plans this weekend?” she asked, raising her eyebrows slyly, and George laughed.

***

On prom night, Kerry appeared at Lisa’s house to surprise her granddaughter with the dress in her hands. They told her how vital this rite of passage was for every young person, and they dressed her up.

In the end, Anne was happy and looked beautiful. But she shrugged as they took pictures of her. “It’s too bad I don’t have a date,” she said, arranging her dress shyly.

“Actually…,” Kerry stared, and the doorbell rang at that moment.

George was right outside wearing a beautiful tux, and he had a corsage in his hands. The older woman made introductions, explaining what happened at the mall and how kind George was. Anne was embarrassed, but she accepted the corsage and the date.

Years later, they got married. | Source: Unsplash

Years later, they got married. | Source: Unsplash

They had tons of fun at prom, and seven years later, she and George got married.

“I told you prom can change your life!” Kerry said while helping Anne with her wedding dress.

What can we learn from this story?

  • It’s not polite to treat anyone any less because of their looks. Sandra judged Kerry because she didn’t look like her regular customers, and she got scolded because of it.
  • Help out as much as you can. George saw a crying older woman and decided to help out. And in the end, he found his happiness thanks to that one moment of kindness.

Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a waitress who mocked a poorly dressed man at a restaurant, and karma hit her back.

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