The Empathy Card

 

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Introduction

Sherri was almost done with her shift at Bizzy-Marts.  All she had to do was mop up the milkshake some idiot spilled in the Greeting Card Aisle and she could go -  Sherri stopped dead in her tracks.  There was a young woman in the sympathy card section was sobbing with all she had.  

Maybe I should just leave her alone.  Sherri turned and was about to walk away... but she glanced at the woman, again.  Her heart felt like it was cracking.  No.  She needs help.  Sherri took a deep breath, put aside her mop and bucket, and walked up to the woman.  The woman jumped when she tapped her on the shoulder.

"Sorry!" Sherri exclaimed, blushing.

The woman gulped and wiped her cheeks.  "It's ok."  She said; she started to turn back to the cards.

"Can I help you find something?" Sherri asked, quickly.  She almost rolled her eyes at how cliched and lame that sounded.

To her surprise, the woman didn't give her the standard response: No, thanks.  The woman stared at her.  Sherri waited patiently.   Finally, the woman said quietly, "I'm looking for a card for my mom."

Sherri nodded.  "What happened?" 

The woman stared at the floor; Sherri didn't move an inch.  She looked her in the eye and said, "My sister recently killed herself."  Tears reformed in the woman's red and swollen eyes.  "My mom is really mad and really upset.  I need a card that will explain to my mom why she did it...  and to say how sorry I am."  The last words came out as a squeak.

Sherri nodded.  "Do you understand why she did it?" she asked, softly.

The woman burst into tears.

Sherri felt a pang in her chest.  Nice one, Sherri!  The store clerk gulped.  "You know... a few years ago... I recently thought about killing myself.  So, I know what your sister went through."

The woman stopped crying and stared Sherri  right in the eye without blinking.  She wiped her face and gave her and odd expression.  "You do?"

Sherri smiled and nodded.  She put a hand on the woman's shoulder.  "Would you like to talk about it in the restaurant area?  I could buy you dinner."  

The woman smiled.

"What's your name?" Sherri asked as the two started walking toward the smell of hamburgers and popcorn.  

"It's Willow," the young woman answered.  "What's yours?"

"Sherri."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Sherri."

Sherri smiled.  "Likewise, Willow."

Willow and Sherri spent the next hour getting to know each other, eating hamburgers and fries, drinking milkshakes, and laughing about the stupid things they've both done in life.

Then, Willow got quiet.  She stared at her food tray and asked in a small voice, "Can I ask you a question?"

Sherri smiled.  "Sure.  Anything."

"Why didn't you kill yourself?  I mean, what made you decide to stay?"

"Ah," Sherri responded.  This was the million dollar question (and the answer was worth more than an infinite amount of money).,,"Well, I was about to do it.  I had the gun in my hand.  But...   that's when I realized I didn't really want to kill myself.  I just wanted to end all the bad stuff that was happening to me in that moment of time.  But, if I ended it all... there were a lot of other things I would miss out on.  I wouldn't be able to fall in love and get married.  I wouldn't be able to have kids.  I never travel the world, see the Eiffel Tower, find out what surprises life has for me..."  Sherri glanced at her tray.  "Death it eternal.  Once you're dead, you're dead and you can never come back."

Sherri took a sip of her milkshake.  Willow silently nodded.

"Plus," Sherri continued.  "I thought of the people I was leaving behind.  My parents, my friends...  I just imagined them all at my funeral... crying and missing me.  Blaming themselves....  Then, even years later, they would have a hole in their heart full of sadness because I was gone and never coming back..."  Sherri sniffed and wiped away a tear that ran down her cheek.  She smiled.  "I could never do that to them.  I didn't want to hurt the ones who stayed."

Willow nodded.  She stood up and smiled at Sherri.  "Thanks.  I guess I'll head home, now."

"Do you still need help finding the card?"

Willow smiled even wider.  "No, thanks.  I think I'll just go home and talk to my mom.  That's all she wanted, anyway."

Sherri smiled; both women said good bye and Sherri watched Willow walk out of the store.  Sherri cleaned up the women's table and mopped up the milkshake.  Then, she headed home.  But, she had one stop to make first.

Willow had mentioned where she lived, so Sherri drove to Willow's house and knocked on the door.  An older woman who looked like Sherri answered the door.  "Yes?" she asked.

"Hi," Sherri said with a smile.  "My name's Sherri.  I'm a friend of Willow's."

The woman grinned from ear to ear.  "Oh, hi.  I'm Willow's mom.  I'm so glad she made a friend.  She's been so depressed lately."

Sherri nodded.  "I just wanted to tell you in person I'm sorry for your loss."

Willow's mother gave Sherri an odd look.  "I'm sorry?" she asked.

Sherri narrowed her eyebrows.  "Willow told me her sister died," she said.  "That's how we met.  She was looking for a sympathy card to help you understand what happened."

Willow's mother shook her head; she looked more confused than ever.  "I'm sorry.  You must have misunderstood Willow.  She's an only child."

Sherri furrowed her brow and blinked a few times.  Over the woman's shoulder, Sherri saw Willow standing in the house.  Willow had a white expression but she was deeply blushing.  Sherri gave her an odd look... and then she smiled.  Willow relaxed and smiled back at Sherri.

Sherri turned back to the confused mother.  "I'm sorry.  I got mixed up.  But, I am so glad that I met your daughter today."  She looked at the beaming Willow.  "I'm really glad she's here.  She is truly a once in a lifetime friend."

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árez

Hi Diane! I think the beginning of your story is beautiful. Can't wait to read more :) Thanks for sharing

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