This is to the father at the park who I watched frantically walk from here to there in a panic, holding one scared, crying child while screaming at the top of his lungs for his other, obviously missing child.
All I did was stare at you while I helped my daughter get into her carseat.
"Should we do anything?"
"No"
"Are you sure?"
"We can't"
Thankfully someone did come to your rescue and ask you what was wrong and then they sped off with purpose towards the ranger's office as you continued to scream for the missing child, while the one you were holding grew more scared and cried louder.
At one point we made eye contact.
Then I got into my seat, closed the door and we drove away. We left you there alone and scared.
What kind of person am I? I am still thinking about you and praying that you found your other child and that the child you were holding was comforted.
This is to the father who was scared and alone - I'm sorry.
1 comment:
Oh, Kim that is heartbreaking. But don't beat yourself up. I've stood in your shoes. When I was working in NYC, a man walked past me acting very strange. He was lurching and seemed stoned or drunk. I was scared. A few minutes later he came toward me again and fell to the ground clutching his heart near my feet. I froze in place and did nothing as he stared at me. Finally a man stopped and crouched down to him and called 911. I walked away. . . . I still think about that day and try to explain why I did nothing. Is he alive? Does he remember my face and wonder, too? Sometimes we just let fear get the better of us. We're human. I think somehow that experience makes me more compassionate now because I've always been so sorry. You will be also. Give your baby a hug and forgive yourself. It's okay.
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