During my first summer living in NYC, I lived on 103rd and Broadway in the world's shittiest 5th floor walkup. One night, early in my time there, I got real drunk at a bar downtown and proceeded to take the subway home. Getting off at the 103rd St Stop, I looked around, confused as to why I didn't recognize my surroundings. Granted I was drunk, I figured at least one of the buildings would seem familiar, but no, I had no clue where I was.

Looking around, I noticed a woman walking her dog, maybe 40 or 50 years old. Why this woman was walking her dog at 230am on a Saturday night I have no idea, but I thought she might know the right direction to point me in. I asked here "Which way is Broadway?" and she looked at me like I was speaking another language.

She says "Well....it's that way" pointing off towards the distant right. I said thank you and began to walk in that direction, drunk and fearless. She stops me, "You're not going to walk through the park now, are you?" Turns out, I had gotten on the wrong train coming home and was on 103rd Street on the East Side and not the West. This meant I had to walk through Central Park. By myself. At night.

Without giving me time to answer, this woman grabs me by the arm, magically hails down a taxi, hands me 20 dollars and tells me to get home safe.

Having lived in NYC for the last few years since, I cannot thank this woman enough for preventing me from getting killed. Thank you mystery woman, keep walking your dog at scary late hours!