I found a little bit of hope at the checkout in France.

The Deli in Tignes was having its pre-lift open rush.

The queue was long.

A woman with a small bottle of water was next to be served.

She handed over a 20 Euro note.

The store had run out of change, and the shop assistant asked if she had a card.

She did not.

An awkward silence fell.

Five seconds can be a long time.

Then a person behind her said: ‘I’ll pay.’

Everyone in the queue started smiling.

Everyone went home and told that story to someone.

Small acts of niceness are never that small.

That moment made me think of this letter.

Hope in concentrated form.