[ WP ] A poor single mother of 2 finds a duffel bag with $ 5 million placed in her car while she was at work . A note left on the bag reads `` Thank you '' .

She spotted the bag just before she opened the driver's side door, and hesitated. Her car had definitely been broken into, but the windows were n't broken. Nothing looked like it had been taken, but really, aside from her kids there was n't much left for anyone to take from her. 
 
 The bag did n't belong. Not only did the crisp, clean fabric of the duffel bag look out of place among the hand me down car seats and faded children's clothing strewn about the backseat of the 12 year old Honda Civic, but it literally did n't belong to Kate. 
 
 She knew it had n't been there when she walked into work this morning. It could n't have been. She remembered reaching into the backseat to grab her orange vest, and there's no way she would have missed that huge duffel bag crammed between the car seats. 
 
 She opened the back door and struggled to get the big bag out of the car, dragging it over the top of Kyle's car seat. It landed with a heavy thud and Kate wondered how she would get it back into the car. She was fit and strong at 25 years old, but it must have weighed close to a hundred pounds. 
 
 She opened the bag and gasped. Her head swam. She'd never seen so much money before. The bag was completely full. She quickly zipped the bag closed and poked her head up from between the cars like a prairie dog, eyes darting around the busy Home Depot parking lot, not sure who or what she was looking for, but clearly failing to find it among the contractors and do-it-yourselfers filing in and out of the building. 
 
 `` What the fuck?'' She muttered as she crouched by the bag again. `` What is this?'' 
 
 She unzipped the bag far enough to peek in, but not enough for prying eyes to see what was inside. This time she spotted an envelope tucked in to the stacks of hundred dollar bills. She reached for it, hoping for an explanation. 
 
 The envelope was addressed to Katherine Adams, her name of course, but no one called her Katherine anymore. Not since her husband had died, anyway. Her friends in school had always called her Kate, but for some reason Shane refused to shorten her name. Kate suspected that he liked having a special name for her. She knew that she did. 
 
 She opened the envelope, and read the letter contained within. 
 
 __________ 
 *Dear Katherine, * 
 
 *Do n't worry. The bag and the money is yours to keep. It is 5 million dollars in cash, and it is completely legal. Well, mostly. Just do n't go flashing it around. I've included a lawyer's contact information. He can help you figure out what to do with it. * 
 
 *We've never met, but we are connected. On November 25th of last year, your husband was involved in a car accident on the 95. He was taken to Mercy Hospital where the doctors did their very best to save him, but were unsuccessful. * 
 
 *My son had been on the transplant list for a year, but he was running out of time when we got the call. The happiest day of my life was certainly the worst day of yours. I know this ca n't replace your husband or begin to compensate you for your loss, but I have plenty of money and I know you can use it. * 
 
 *Also, I want you to know that my son is going to be a father soon. His wife is three months pregnant, and it's all because of Shane and what he was able to do for our family. * 
 
 *Thank you. * 
 __________ 
 
 Kate sat heavily upon the duffel bag, clutching the note to her chest. She'd never been given anything quite so valuable. 
 
 
 
 

