While shopping at Walmart, I was approached by a man insisting I give up my wheelchair for his wife, claiming she was “just tired.” His tone was aggressive, and before I could respond, a calm and composed employee named Mary stepped in.

“Is everything alright here?” she asked. The man launched into his complaint, insisting it was only fair his wife take my chair. Mary listened patiently, then gently asked the wife if she needed help walking. The woman quietly replied, “No, I’m okay.”

Mary explained that wheelchairs were prioritized for those who needed them to move through the store and offered to find another chair if one was available. The man, realizing he wasn’t going to win, eventually backed down and walked away with his wife.

Mary turned to me with a kind smile and asked if I was alright. I nodded, still a bit shaken but grateful. Her respectful handling of the situation reminded me how important it is not to make assumptions about others’ needs—and how much it matters when someone stands up for what’s right.

As I left the store, I spotted Mary helping another customer and gave her a grateful nod. She smiled back. In that moment, her compassion meant everything.