Chapter 1: The Grocery Run

Recently, I embarked on a solo grocery shopping trip. My cart was filled with essentials: Jiffy peanut butter (extra crunchy, naturally), baby carrots (trying to stay healthy), potato bread (not quite as healthy), and La Croix (back to being healthy, right?). With everything I needed in hand, I headed straight to the self-checkout lane. I prefer minimal human interaction (though my therapist would argue otherwise), so I cradled my items, refusing to pay for a plastic bag that would harm the environment (look at me, being a great citizen!), and dashed out to my car.

In that moment, an unexpected crisis unfolded before my eyes. An unattended shopping cart began racing towards a parked Toyota Camry at an alarming speed of about 4 miles per hour. It felt as if time slowed down — which, in a way, it did — and I knew I had to act quickly.

With my groceries still in hand, I rushed toward the cart — I had to intervene. I had to avert disaster.

However, as I sprinted, I realized I might be too late. The cart was moving faster than I could run, and I feared a collision was inevitable. Metal would meet metal.

But in a last-ditch effort, I extended my right hand and struck that cart with all my might. I hit it so hard that it was redirected, like a construction traffic cone. The impact was so tremendous that a magnitude 2.3 earthquake might have registered somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

With my intervention, the cart veered off its disastrous path, sparing the car from harm. I looked around, but no one had witnessed my brave act. No witnesses to my selfless heroism.

I pondered if any security cameras had captured the moment. Perhaps I'd make it onto local news, or even the front page of Yahoo! News. Maybe Reddit would celebrate my fame.

Yet, there were no accolades that day or any days that followed.

Until now.

I can no longer suppress the story of how I saved the day. This was my moment of changing history.

Have you heard of the butterfly effect?

It's the idea that the fluttering of a butterfly's wings — a seemingly minor action — can set off a chain of events that leads to significant outcomes, like a storm forming on the other side of the world.

What if my small act of bravery had a ripple effect?

I realized one thing: people needed to hear this tale.

And one more thing: potato bread really is delicious.