In college, I was pretty naive about general safety. Was sitting under a freeway underpass waiting for a greyhound bus at 3am when this super sketch van pulled up and offered me a ride. I declined but he wouldn’t leave.
This homeless woman came up to the van and started shouting at him to leave me alone. When he still wouldn’t leave, she went to her shopping cart and started chucking books at his head.
That lady was amazing. She was old and feisty. And probably saved my life. Didn’t even think twice about using all of her worldly possessions to protect my dumb ass.
I would drive back to that spot several times with food and books, but never saw her again. I think of her often though.