I’m a 40-year-old single man living in NYC in a building with no elevator and I live on the 4th floor. While some days all the steps can be daunting, I got used to it pretty quickly, and now I’d don’t think much about it. A few months ago, the woman who lives in the apartment above me (5th floor) was making her way up the steps with her shopping cart. I would guess she’s in her late 60’s and was clearly struggling, so I offered and carried it up for her. She doesn’t speak English, so she just said, “Gracias, Papi!” and I went on my way feeling like I had done a good deed.

About a week later, this scenario played itself out again, and again I helped her out. And now…it’s happening about once or twice a week, and I don’t know what to do.