I received a call last week from a member of our congregation who was coordinating meals for a young woman who had recently miscarried her first child at 4 1/2 months. Heartbreaking. After the call, I tried to forgive myself for yelling at my four children who are healthy and conceived without difficulty or delay.
My husband was home (thankfully) so I set out to make my delivery. I was happy I was able to help someone in need. I was happy I was getting out of the house alone, even for just a few minutes. I was happy this call to serve meant my family would also have a good meal that night. I has so happy that I had an extra homemade pumpkin pie in my freezer that I could share with them. I was happy that I could think about someone else. I needed it.
The apartment complex I was going to was indeed complex with duplicate numbers, one set for East and another for West. I was turned around and lost. I had never been there before and decided that rather than call and ask for directions I would find it on my own. At this point I was only 15 minutes late from my delivery time.
I thought I was walking in the right direction. I saw a man approaching me with a black garbage bag. I have never been comfortable meeting men alone when it's dark. Too many bad movies with that plot. But I also remembered something I had read once about looking your attacker in the eyes and letting them know you aren't afraid. I decided to be pleasant and say hi and admitted that I was lost and if he knew where apartment 48E was. I was only trying to be pleasant... I didn't know what was going to happen after that. I thought for sure he would just say "hi", and "I don't know".
He said, he didn't know but that he had a map in his apartment. Cue spooky music.
What was I supposed to do?
Not wanting to be that girl who is afraid of her own shadow I began to follow him back to his apartment. What was I doing?????
And then I had visions of what could possibly be in that black trash bag that he was just taking out. Was it pieces of the last girl who got lost in the complex.
I wasn't stupid enough to follow him into his apartment, but I stood outside a ways. It wasn't very far from where I was standing. He let me look at the map for a minute so I could get my directions right and I thanked him for his help.
He walked with me for a few yards until the turn off for the garbage drop off. And then I thought, he knows where I am going! What if he follows me?
What an easy scare I am. I know it is good to be vigilant, but it also feels good to trust people.
Thankfully, I didn't wind up the star of my own horror film. Thankfully, he wasn't a murderer tonight. Thankfully, I was able to help in a family in pain that I cannot fathom. Thankfully, I returned to my family safe and sound.
I hope you and your family enjoy a safe and Happy Thanksgiving this year. Don't forget to join us next Monday for the last Medical Monday of this year!
I would've chickened out and just driven to the nearest gas station! I lived alone for two years in an apartment and one night at 9pm I had a knock at my door. It was the guy next door who was about the same age as me. I called my boyfriend and asked him to stay on the phone while I answered it. Haha, the poor guy needed some sugar for a cake he was making!!!! It's good to be wary but feels even better to trust people to be good.
ReplyDeleteLOL. happy thanksgiving too. I would not even have tried to follow him back to the apartment.
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