A seemingly insignificant pen mishap caused Vanessa and Athini—two strangers—to cross paths at a local store. When Vanessa noticed Athini struggling to see, she made the heartwarming decision to buy her new specs in what has become a treasured moment for both of them and all who read the story!
Sea Point, South Africa (04 September 2024) — Those of us who weren’t blessed with 20-20 vision (or the kind of vision that doesn’t require extensive squinting for that matter) know the utter dismay of having our specs break.
It’s like going from a world of clarity to the depths of a murky swimming pool. Except you can’t come up for air.
This was the case for shop assistant Athini, whose broken specs had rendered her to rely on her limited vision. But little did she know, a stranger would soon come into the store packing not only a broken pen in need of exchanging, but also a wealth of kindness.
Vanessa Frankal was going through her own moment of distress. A broken bee-themed pen, black ink all over her hands and a birthday card to write. On a mission to get a new pen, Vanessa headed to the store of purchase where she’d cross paths with Athini.
“While [Athini’s] manager was scanning the pen price on her computer, I noticed Athini squinting at her managers’ screen and really struggling to see it right up close. I didn’t want to be rude but gently asked, ‘Do you wear glasses?’ She answered ‘yes’ and then continued to struggle to see the screen.
“I asked her ‘Did you forget to bring them to work?’ And she said, ‘No they broke, I need new ones.’ I insensitively said, ‘oh why don’t you get new ones? You are really struggling to see the screen! She answered, ‘I know, all the customers are commenting. But I can’t afford new ones.’ When I asked how much they cost I was shocked and then figured she wasn’t in any position to afford that,” recounts Vanessa.
Without hesitation, Vanessa decided that she was going to buy Athini new specs!
Together, the two popped over to the nearby shopping centre, where an optometrist stood only an escalator ride away.
There, Athini had her eyes checked out, and to no one’s surprise, she needed new glasses very badly.
Vanessa was hot on the optometrist’s heels, checking in to see whether Athini had gotten her glasses and following up with the optometrist when they were still on their way. Luckily, it wasn’t too long until the message came through that the glasses were ready and waiting!
“We quickly went together and when she got the glasses she burst into the biggest smile and said she loved them. As she put them on, and looked around the store, she came towards me to give me a hug and then she just started sobbing and sobbing in my arms—with relief that she could see!! Then I started crying, then the assistant started crying…and then the optometrist came to give her a big hug,” Vanessa shares.
“It was one of my most special moments that I will treasure always.”
Of what inspired her to act so selflessly, Vanessa says that it was simply “how cruel that someone can’t enjoy the luxury of sight, and has to live with such vulnerability, simply because they can’t afford it.”
“I said to Athini, ‘Isn’t it funny that it was a broken pen that brought me to you!’ She told me her Mom told her, ‘This wasn’t an accident, God sent this person to you.”
Vanessa encourages anyone whose heart has been touched by her story to pay it forward in their own worlds.
“I encourage whoever is reading this to do any random act of kindness (big or small) to someone who is more vulnerable than you. The absolute gift is in the giving.”
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