Several weeks ago I was shopping. I came across this woman who was looking intently at a shelf with items on it. Something about her demeanor made me stop.
I waited a few minutes to give her some time. After awhile, I needed to pass as I was in a bit of a hurry. I said excuse me. As soon as I passed, she got angry. She said, "You couldnt have just waited? You just had to pass?"
I was taken aback. I simply replied, "I'm sorry, I needed to get going." I then turned around and was going to walk away. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw her wipes her eyes.
I walked back to her and asked if she was ok. Her story then poured out. She said that her h had left her early that morning. He told her he didnt want to be married anymore. He left her with a young child.
She had gone through papers trying to figure out what was wrong. She found that he was deep in debt and there appeared to be another woman. She was devastated.
I listened to her for quite awhile. I gave her my number and told her to call anytime. She did. We spoke for several hours. She thought he may be going through a MLC. He wasnt answering her calls.
She then told me something that astonished me. She asked me if I noticed what she was looking at in the store so intently. I told her it was stationery.
She said she was looking for the perfect paper on which to say goodbye to her family. She was going to end her life that night.
To say I was blown away would be an understatement. She thanked me for turning around and talking with her.
I then thanked her. I told her that she taught me a few things. I said that we should never assume we know what people are going through. I thought she was just an angry woman.
I have been struggling with some things lately and what happened with her reminded me that there are people who have greater burdens than mine.
I have spoken with her several times since then. She hasnt heard from her h though she knows people who have seen him. She went to a lawyer as she wanted to take her child and go back home to another state where she has family.
She is working through it all and I think she is going to be ok.
The world really is an amazing place. People come into our lives for a reason. Sometimes we dont realize why at the time.
I know that our paths were destined to cross. I have not one doubt about that.
It was a clear reminder to me of so many things...of which I am so grateful.
She is an incredibly stong woman who lost her way for a bit, but, she is finding her path.
I told her that I understand if she chooses not to stay in touch as I may represent a difficult period in her life. I thanked her for what I learned and for trusting me enough to reach out and call me that night.
Life is amazing, isnt it? It's hard and incredible and wondrous and everything in between. But most of all...it's worth living.
