Unlikely Conversations

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A woman collapsed next to me in the airport.  She was sobbing so hard that she could no longer breathe or stand.  I thought she was going to hit the floor.

I grabbed her from behind by the elbows, and said something like: “Please, let me help you!”  Suddenly, her whole demeanor changed.  She looked embarrassed, tried to control her tears, and looked grateful all at the same time.

Once she recovered a bit, I suggested we go and grab a bite to eat.  I had a substantial layover, I told her, and could use some company.  She explained that she had already eaten, but would be happy to keep me company.

We began a very unlikely conversation.  I unwittingly became the woman’s confessor.  She had just watched her husband board a plane.  They were trying hard to conceive a child, without any success.  She was ovulating, and now he was out of town for an extended period of time.  She felt inadequate, overwhelmed, and like a complete failure as a woman.

She told me that she did not feel comfortable discussing this with friends or family.  But somehow she could talk to me—a complete stranger who she would, most likely, never see again.  I understood this, as I once met a woman on the beach who I shared my own secrets with.

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Isn’t it interesting that we sometimes feel safer sharing secrets with strangers than we do with friends or family?  I suppose there is a presumed safety in anonymity, and perhaps a perception of less judgment.  Maybe there is less fabric to unravel.  Makes me wonder if we should reconsider who are best confessors are.

Have you ever had an experience like this?  If you’re comfortable sharing it, I’d love to hear about it.  Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.

Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time

http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com