She looked around, hoping someone would help, but people were indifferent. Her lips trembled, her eyes filled with tears. She extended her hand, as if asking for help, but no one came. One young man even took out his phone and started filming—he thought it was funny.

The grandmother, out of breath, crawled toward the exit. One hand gripped her cane, the other braced against the cold tiled floor. The noise of the store seemed to have died down—all that could be heard was her heavy breathing and soft groans of pain. Every step she took was agony, but she continued forward, hoping to get out of the store and somehow get home.

People parted, but no one helped. Their gazes were a mixture of pity and indifference. It seemed everyone had decided it was none of their business.

A little girl—no more than five years old, no more—approached the grandmother. She was holding a teddy bear. She carefully leaned over, looked at the old woman, and quietly asked,

“Grandma, are you in pain? Where are your children?”

The old woman looked up. A weak, kind smile appeared on her face. The girl extended her small hand, trying to help her up.

The girl’s mother, seeing this, quickly ran over. She picked up the grandmother, sat her down on a bench, and immediately called an ambulance. While they waited for the paramedics, the girl held the old woman’s hand and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, everything will be okay.”

When the ambulance arrived and took the grandmother away, the store was silent. The people who a moment ago had watched her suffering with indifference now couldn’t look each other in the eye.

Only one little girl showed what true humanity is.

She didn’t pass by, didn’t turn away, wasn’t afraid. And at that moment, she—a small child—was the only person in the room with a soul.