Sarah was never a morning person. The alarm blaring at 6:30 AM was her daily nemesis. But one thing made the relentless early hours bearable – the comforting aroma of fresh coffee wafting through the air. Her favorite coffee shop was just a few minutes from her apartment, and it became her morning sanctuary. One sunny morning, after hitting the snooze button a couple of times, Sarah rushed to get dressed. She had a big presentation at work, and she needed the caffeine more than ever. She grabbed her keys, dashed out the door,

and made her way to the familiar coffee shop. As she joined the line of cars in the drive-thru, Sarah couldn’t help but feel the familiar rush of anticipation. The smell of roasted coffee beans and the thought of that first sip was her little daily luxury. The line inched forward, and soon, Sarah found herself at the drive-thru window. She reached for her purse to pay, but before she could hand over her credit card, the barista smiled and said, “Your coffee has been covered by the car ahead of you.”

Sarah was taken aback. “Really?” she asked, both surprised and grateful. The barista nodded. “Yes, the woman in the car ahead wanted to pay it forward today. Enjoy your coffee!” With a warm smile, Sarah accepted the free coffee and drove away. The unexpected act of kindness lingered in her mind as she sipped the delicious brew. It put a spring in her step and a smile on her face, making her presentation feel a little less daunting. As she exited the drive-thru and merged into traffic, Sarah glanced in her rearview mirror at the next car approaching the coffee shop window. An idea began to form in her mind. Maybe she could do the same, pay it forward, and brighten someone else’s morning. She decided to stick around, park her car, and go back into the coffee shop. Inside, she approached the cashier and said, “I’d like to pay for the coffee of the person in the car behind me.” The cashier smiled and nodded, processing the payment. Sarah knew she had just initiated a chain of kindness, and she felt a warm sense of satisfaction.As she left the coffee shop and walked to her car, Sarah couldn’t help but wonder how the next driver would react. Would they continue the chain of goodwill? She watched from her car as the driver behind her pulled up to the window. The barista informed them that their coffee had already been paid for, and then something beautiful happened. The driver, a middle-aged man, smiled and said, “That’s wonderful! Please use the money I was going to spend to pay for the coffee of the car behind me.” A wave of positivity washed over Sarah as she witnessed the continuation of the coffee chain.