Over Coffee and Dessert

How can I be kind to this woman? How can

I show her I actually care? She had some sad

and terrible things about her life to share.

It began by my asking, tell me about yourself?

And, by God, that she did, offering far more than

I expected to hear at our first meeting, anyway.

I wanted to help her out, but not being involved

in the first place, I realized that there was nothing

I could do, except try to listen attentively, nod my

head in agreement and occasionally say, Oh my,

in measured surprise.

She was mostly pleasant and well-mannered in

appearance which of course made it easier for

me to pay attention.

I must admit, though, I was a novice at this psy-

chology bit. Had I the know-how or professional

training, I may have been better prepared to

understand and relate to her child and adult-

hood abuses from various men.

Instead, I tried to assure her I was not like

those others, and that she was safe with me.

But all I could offer was to say I’m sorry for

what she had been through.

After picking up the check for coffee and dessert

we had at the espresso house that day, I should

have seen her to her car, shook her hand cordially

or perhaps even given her a sympathetic hug, and

wished her the best.

She looked me in the eye and said, “Don’t feel

sorry for me.” Along with my polite assurrance

that I wouldn’t, I made a serious error in judge-

ment by asking her out again.

Even though my ego made me feel as if I

could play the white night in shining armor

come to the rescue in the drama of her life,

that was only my first mistake.

And in the long line of succession, it would

turn out not to be my last. Hell, I wasn’t

even all that comfortable in my own skin.

                           -30-

Chris Hanch 7-1-2020