Empathy goes a long way
I went out for a walk tonight even though it was raining hard. While on my way to this cafe where they supposedly are selling my favorite Kombucha, in my head I hear a voice that says “Your life does not revolve around him” and I do agree on that voice lol. I am of service to others. And the moment I declare that, I was met by a girl sitting on the pavement while I am waiting for the pedestrian light to turn green.
I already know she’s in distressed but who am I to ask her if she needed help. So as I stand there listening to Post Malone, she came up to me without hesitation. Tears almost rolling down her face. At first I couldn’t hear her, until I took my airpods off, she’s apparently asking for “Pandacan Manila”. While I am lost with Post Malone’s unbothered emotions, I told the girl, it’s definitely not here in Makati and she should take a bus or something.
She said she’s been trying to book an angkas since 6pm and it was almost 8pm already. Her phone battery is at 3%.
When I saw her face, I remember that feeling when I was 5 years old. I was at the back of my grandfather’s “owner” type jeep. If you lived in the 90s, you would know what I’m talking about lol. It was my “sperm donor’s” birthday so we went out to buy an ice cream. It was me, my older cousin, my aunt and the sperm donor. On our way back home I remember I was celebrating at the back of the jeep because we’re going to have ice cream! As if I haven’t had ice cream in my entire life and that’s the best thing that’s ever going to happen to me that day.
The next thing I knew, the owner did an over take over a tricycle or jeep and we fell off the road on the field of rice. It was good 3 meters drop. I remember I hit my head and became unconscious because all of a sudden after that falling off moment I am suddenly in the middle of the road, wearing just one slipper, fully drenched in water from the field, crying, and feeling lost. I don’t see any familiar faces. I don’t even know where I was. I was crying and asking anyone if they saw my sperm donor. I even heard someone said he might be dead?
I had PTSD. I am scared of riding buses, because I can feel the motion whenever they will overtake any car on the road. It’s the same feeling I had when we fell off the road when we had the accident. Well thank God I overcame it. But that’s beside the point.
The point is, when I saw the girl in distressed and the look on her face, I instantly know, she’s scared and she needs help. Empathy really goes a long way. I tried flagging a taxi but no one wants to take the ride to Pandacan. She was surprised, it’s that far. She doesn’t really know where she was. She came for a job interview, a friend is supposed to help her but ended up blocking her, so she was left alone with 3% battery on her phone.
Honestly, I commend her for being so brave to ask for help. And for coming with me when I told her we should walk towards Ayala Triangle to get a cab. She’s scared and she could’ve be risking her life if she met someone who has bad intentions. But I’m really glad she’s fearless enough to come to me, brave enough to also come with me for a walk, and vulnerable enough to trust that she’s in great hands.
To end this story, I was able to book her a grab and she gets home safely.
May this be a reminder to be kind to people, animals and nature around you. But most specially, be kind to yourself.
Love and Light,
Katherine