Decisions I met a woman tonight; her name was xxxxx. I was driving in to work, and I saw her hitching on a winding, mountain road. I was getting close to work, but I stopped and pulled over for her anyway, since the road was narrow, and not a very safe place to walk. She thanked me for stopping, and said it was scary walking out there. I asked her where she was going, and she said "Over the hill."
She looked sad, and gave me her name, and I gave her mine as I drove. She needed to talk, and told me she had just gotten into a fight with her ex-husband, the one that used to beat on her. I said something lame, like "That's not good," trying to project sympathy for this stranger in my car, sensing that she needed to connect with another person, even if for a short moment.
She asked me if I drank, and I said no, which disappointed her. "I could really use a cold one," she sighed. Her house was just over the hill, like she said, and we were there within minutes of her getting into my car. I pulled into her driveway, and she started to get out, then hesitated. She looked back at me, wanting to ask me to come in for a minute, wanting some sign from me that I would say yes.
If this were a letter from Penthouse, I would have given her that sign, and we would have gone into her house and had passionate sex all night long. If this were some heartwarming little Internet story, I would have gone in and we would have talked, fallen deeply in love, gotten married and lived happily ever after. If this were some Hollywood movie, I would have gone inside and been cut to ribbons as she turned into a psycho stalker. But this is the real world, and I have bills to pay, and groceries to buy. So I sat there, and she thanked me for the ride, and got out. I said something else lame, like "Take Care" and watched her as she went inside.
I drove on to work, wondering about the choices we face. Who do we help, and what price do we pay when we refuse? I said a short prayer for her as I drove off, asking God to help her find some peace tonight. I wish I could have done more.
Posted by Rich at July 22, 2002 7:06 AM