a random act of kindness

So on my subway ride home from work on Friday, I was feeling a little down.

There was a teenage girl seated across from me for most of the way, wearing headphones and writing in what I took to be a journal. Wearing a sweatshirt saying SENIORS and CLASS OF 2013 on it; there was a slogan, 2 + 0 + 1 = 3 and the only class that adds up. I remember noticing her, wondering idly what she was writing, looking away again. Thinking distantly She's pretty. I hope she knows it.

And either I looked a lot more down than I was feeling, or I was feeling a lot more down than I realized. Because as we were both getting up to leave the train, she said "Excuse me" and handed me a folded page from her notebook, and then went on out before I could ask anything further.

On the page was a drawing of a smiling face with big bright eyes, and the words:

have a smile
you look like you need one

you're awesome,
keep on going.

And I very nearly cried.

Thank you, lovely unknown senior of '13. You're awesome too.