From Hidden Brain Media, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

This is My Unsung Hero, stories where one person reached out to help another in a time of need.

My Unsung Hero is my therapist.

They said, it's okay. I still love you.

You're still my best friend.

So if she hears this, I just want to say, thank you.

Today's story comes from Julie Cobb of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

One afternoon, Julie was driving home from work when she ran out of gas.

Her car came to a stop near the underpass of a freeway, the site of a crowded homeless

encampment. I was sitting there so vulnerable, and I was anxious, but this man ran by,

ran up to me from under the bridge and asked me if I needed help.

And I said, I think I've run out of gas.

And he said, well, first, we need to get you out of the road.

So then two other men ran over to help.

And again, can we help you and what's going on?

And so the three of them were able to get me off the side of the road.

And the first man said, I can get you some gas.

I have a gas can.

And he ran off and he got his bicycle.

And one of the men that had run up introduced himself as Dominic.

And he said, this is a dangerous place.

You know, there are some people that would take advantage of this situation.

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