Confession.
Today I was driving around downtown, and I had to stop my car to wait for a woman to limp across the road in front of me. She was jaywalking, and could only take one painful step at a time. She was wearing high heel flip flop type shoes, was about 5'11, and looked like she may be a prostitute or drug addict.
After parking my car, I was walking to my destination restaurant, and I ran into her in a parking lot. She asked me if I had a car.
Re-runs of "Cops" came flashing through my head. How many times have I seen them arrest somebody with the story "Yes, Officer I gave this woman a ride. I don't know her name."? I told the lady I couldn't help her, and I continued on my way. As I looked into her eyes, I could see that both of them where fairly bruised. She looked like she had been badly beaten recently.
There is little doubt I should have done something. I did nothing. I didn't even talk to her more than I had to. I could have called her a cab, or gone to get a friend so that it would be more appropriate to give her a ride to a shelter or a clinic. I didn't even find out what she needed.
As I left my dinner, I felt quite guilty walking through the parking lot again. Of course the woman was nowhere to be seen.
