I'm a retired English gentleman living in the USA, married happily for many years to an American lady. I am, for my age, fit and active. My story takes place during a short trip to the UK to attend a three-day conference on what was previously my speciality, marriage and relationship counselling. In truth, as I was retired, I didn't need to attend, but I liked to keep up on the latest developments in the field.
The first day at the conference was long and tiring as I was still a little jet-lagged from my flight. I was really looking forward to a nice long bath and a relaxing evening. After the conference ended, I walked slowly back to my hotel through the freshly fallen leaves littering the footpath through a park in central London. I had taken this route to better admire the magnificent display of autumn colours decorating the trees. The path wound around a small lake, and I decided to sit a while on one of the cast-iron benches provided. Most were taken by families feeding the wildfowl on the lake, but I managed to find a space for myself on the end of a bench seat already occupied by a lady. She wore a hooded raincoat that hid her face, and not wishing to intrude on her personal space, I said,
"Please excuse this intrusion, but would you mind if I sat here?"
I think she may have been a little startled to hear me. She raised her head and slid back her hood, and I saw she was a middle-aged lady of about fifty years of age. I also noticed her red, tear-filled eyes, and she was clearly very upset about something. My first thought was to leave her to her worries, but after she quickly wiped her eyes with a crumpled tissue, she replied in a quiet, soft voice,
"Yes, of course, you can."
I brushed the fallen leaves from the seat and sat down beside her, fully expecting her to leave as she knew I had seen her tears. But she remained seated, her head now cradled in her hands. The situation was a little uncomfortable for me, as I'm sure it was for her, so I decided to break the ice by asking,
"Forgive me, but I hate to see anyone so upset. Is there anything I can do to help?"
She raised her head once more, looked me in the eyes, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm just being a bit silly. Thank you for your concern, but there is nothing you can do."
I have always considered myself a gentleman, with all the old-fashioned virtues that come with that, and I certainly wasn't about to abandon this 'damsel in distress' until I was absolutely sure she was OK. I pushed her a little more by asking,
"I understand we are strangers, but it's true that it's often easier to share your problems with someone you don't know than it is to talk to family or close friends. I know from personal experience how uncomfortable, or even embarrassing, it can be to discuss matters such as money worries or something of a more personal nature with them."
She was a little more composed now that her tears had stopped, and in answer, she quickly blurted out,
"No, it's not money worries."
Her answer obviously inferred it was a more personal problem, and I think as soon as she said it, she regretted it because she rose out of the bench as if to leave. I too rose and said,
"Please forgive me. I do apologise. Your personal life is absolutely none of my business. But before you leave, permit me to tell you my name is James, James Knight and I'm a retired relationship counsellor. I'm here in London for a conference, and I leave for the USA in a few days. It is not very scientific, I know, but I truly feel fate has led us to meet like this. You have a worry that has upset you, and I have spent all my working life helping worried people just like yourself. If you would kindly allow me, I would like to try and help you too? Can you at least please tell me your first name?"
She looked at me and softly stammered,
"I'm Sue but, I'm not sure. No, I'm sorry I just can't tell you."
Not wishing to pressure her further, I took one of my old business cards and wrote my hotel name and room number on the back. Handing it to her, I said,
"I understand, but should you change your mind and want someone to share your problems with, you can find me here. I will be available anytime after 4 pm today or tomorrow."
She took the card and, slipping it into her purse, said,
"Thank you, James; you have been very kind," and walked rapidly towards the park exit.
The next day I kept myself busy catching up with old colleagues and attending various boring seminars. By late afternoon, I was ready to call it a day and headed back to my hotel. Walking through the park once more, I wondered if Sue might be sitting there again, but the bench was empty. On entering my hotel, I decided to visit the bar, and you can imagine my surprise when I spotted a familiar figure seated on a bar stool. It was Sue from the park, but I hardly recognised her. She wore a lovely mustard-coloured silk dress, and unlike yesterday when her hair was mostly hidden by her hood, it now spilled down in soft waves over her shoulders. Although, like many women of her age, she carried a few extra pounds, she was a very attractive lady. I walked across to her and said,
"Hi again, Sue. It's nice to see you again. I'm pleased to say you are looking a lot happier than you did yesterday."
"Hello, James," she replied. "I do feel better, but I'm not sure I would say I'm happier. I hardly slept at all last night trying to decide if I should come to see you or not, but yesterday was such an awful day that I had to do something. I'm just not sure what that something is, so if I may, can I take you up on your kind offer of help?"
I was pleased she had, in my mind at least, made the right decision to seek help, and I reassured her by replying,
"Of course you can. I promise to do all I can to resolve your problem, but I only have a day or so before I fly home. It's not much time, so perhaps we should get started right away? If you are happy to do so, finish up your drink, and we can go up to my room. Once there, you can tell me as much or as little as you are comfortable with about what is worrying you."