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As I was standing in the Walmart check out line purchasing new air fresheners for my car, I noticed this lady staring at me from two aisles over. Whenever I challenged her stare, she would look away and within a few minutes she was starring again. I thought to myself, “Oh Lord, it’s about to be some Walmart drama up in here.” Finally, I got to the register, paid and walked out of the store. I was a few feet away from my car and was just about to click the lock button, when I heard, “Excuse me! Do I know you?” I turned around and there standing within 5 feet of me, was the lady from the store. I admonished myself for allowing someone to get so close. I’m normally more vigilant out in public because if you move around as much as I do, situational awareness can save your life. I quickly scanned the area for possible accomplices or help, if needed and then bought my eyes back to this stranger invading my space.
I turned back at the lady and said, “No, I don’t think so.” I inched closer to my car and she inched closer to me. I took in her expensive weave, nice outfit and pricey shoes and started to wonder if I was on that show, “What Would You Do?” I even took my eyes off the lady long enough to look for John Quinones. As I looked at the stranger again, it was then that I noticed her face. She had a beautiful face that could’ve been on any of the magazine covers I’d just leafed through in the store. Her makeup was flawless and her ears were adorned with an impressive pair of diamond earrings. It was then that I thought that she was maybe a Housewife from that Reality TV show. But they don’t shop at Walmart, do they? It just didn’t make any sense.
Right about now, my fight or flight senses were kicking in and I placed my house key between my fingers to use as a weapon and said in my stern (but polite) voice, “I don’t know you and I need to leave, move please!” She stepped back, but said, “Is your name Vanessa? Damn! How did she know my name? I was so, so close to denying my own name, but God wouldn’t let me. She went on to say, “Don’t you remember me, I’m Jillian, Jillian Andrews, we went to high school together!”
I searched deep into my memory bank and remembered a girl from my Algebra class by that name. She ran with the popular crowd, while I ran solo most of the time. I thought back to 1983 to recall the one conversation we’d had; I believe she asked me for a pencil. I looked at her again, more closely this time to see if I could detect some element of familiarity. For the life of me I could not.
As we stood in the parking lot, I noticed that she didn’t have any bags although I’d seen her in the checkout lane. I saw a look of desperation in her eyes as she pleaded for me to remember her. After a minute or so, I said in cheery voice, “Oh Yeah! I remember you!” I was really saying to myself, I remember a girl in my Algebra class by that name and we weren’t friends, so let’s get this over with. (Oh don’t act like y’all don’t know what I’m talking about.) We faked laughed a bit at the tense situation, then she asked me if I had time for a cup of coffee at the Starbucks located in the plaza.
Ok Y’all! I haven’t seen this woman in 30+ years when she basically runs me down in the parking lot and pleads for me remember her and now she’s asking me out for coffee. My natural tendency would be to decline because it was sorta creepy and uncomfortable. I was intrigued, but I also watch Criminal Minds and know people (even nicely dressed people) do some crazy stuff. But, since this is my year of living outside of my comfort zone and I was curious, I decided to go get the coffee. I like coffee. Please no comment about curiosity killing the cat.
We walked to the coffee house since it was right next door. As we ordered the coffee, she insisted on paying. She said to me, “You can pick it up next time.” As if she was certain, there would be a next time. We sat down in an area along the window and as we drank the sweet over-priced beverage, Jill (I’d decided to call her what they called her in high school) looked out the window and I looked at Jill. 
She was telling me about her 3 adult sons and ex-husband living in Houston, and she’d lived in Atlanta for the past 13 years. I remember thinking that she looked sad when she talked about her family. I told her about my girls and that I had been in Atlanta for a short period of time. She asked about other kids from high school and I told her that we had a class of 1985 Facebook page, she then told me that she wasn’t on Facebook. Really! We’d been there for almost an hour and as I was tidying up to leave, Jill said, “Vanessa, I really need to tell you something.” I know you’re thinking the same as me – she was secretly in love with me! I took a deep breath and sat back down and said, “What, You see dead people?”
It was then that I noticed her eyes tearing up and I steadied myself for whatever she was about to say. She took her own deep breath and said, “I suffer from depression.” As the tears left her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks, she went on to say that she had been in the Walmart for the past 3 hours thinking about the most efficient way to end her life. Jill explained that she’d tried to commit suicide on 2 other occasions, but her family had found her both times – once in the bathtub and once in the garage. She said she’d finally decided to take a bunch of pills leftover from an old back injury prescription. As she shredded the napkin into confetti, Jill said she was in the checkout line purchasing a quart of Butter Pecan ice cream as her final meal. While she was standing in the checkout line, she had a conversation with God. She told Him how tired she was of feeling the emptiness and desolation and she wanted Him to send a sign that today wasn’t her day to die .
She said at that moment, she looked up and saw me. She said she kept starring because she wanted to be sure it was me, but since I didn’t recognize her, that maybe it wasn’t a sign from God. Then she remembered that she’d had a lot of cosmetic surgeries and sometimes, she didn’t recognize her own face when she looked in the mirror. At that point, Jill decided to leave her ice cream to search for me in the parking lot, to be sure she wasn’t missing a sign from God.
As she sat across from me with tears rolling down her cheek (I need to ask her about her mascara-no raccoon eyes at all!), I thought about this well put together woman seated before me. My mind went to Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, Robin Williams and so many others who’d lost their battle with depression and yielded to suicide.
We sat in silence for close to 5 minutes and I was literally loss for words. When I’m loss for words, I do the only thing I know how to do, I grabbed both her hands and said, “Let’s Pray!” She asked, “Right here?” I said, “Right here!” We prayed for peace, healing, wisdom and understanding. We asked God to order our steps and to guide us in the direction He wanted us to go. We thanked Him for grace and mercy and all the many blessings in our lives. We closed our prayer with a loud Amen and before we could open our eyes, we heard a few amen(s) from the customers around us.
END OF EPISODE I – JILL’S CONFESSION
Remember: When you are lost for words or simply lost, go to God in prayer and He’ll point you in the right direction.
Friends did you know that according to Hope for Tomorrow Research Foundation, depression:
- Affects over 18 million adults (one in ten) in any given year.
- Is the leading cause of disability for ages 15-44.
- Is the primary reason why someone dies of suicide about every 13 minutes. – over 41,000 people a year.
- In comparison: homicide claims less than 16,000 lives each year, according to 2013 CDC statistics.
You never know what someone is going through, so please be kind. If you’d like to know what happens next, please subscribe and be notified of the next Episode.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent.
Cheers!
I really liked this story and the way you write. I really was shocked at what she had to say and if you don’t mind me suggesting, maybe put an excerpt toward the top as a lead in. I think it would definitely make the reader want to read on to the finish! Your title is a good grabber though.
Also, a pop-up to subscribe did pop up but it doesn’t close for some reason. So I had to keep scrolling and just read when the words got to the top because the pop-up covers some of the text. I’m using mailchimp also so I hope it doesn’t happen on my site.
Thanks Alex. I’ll try to fix that pop up. I appreciate your feedback!
What an incredible story. I couldn’t read it fast enough to find out what was going to happen. You are a great story-teller and a beautiful light in this world. Thank you for being there on that day and having the courage to leave your comfort zone. I believe in signs and I believe God is using you to reach others. 💜💜💜
Thank you so much. I receive and appreciate your kind words.
I don’t even know what to say! I am definitely the type that doesn’t want to chat with anyone when I’m out running errands. I wouldn’t have stopped or given it a second thought. This is a great reminder to slow down and enjoy my surroundings. It’s also a great reminder that you never know what anyone is going through! Beautifully written!
Thanks Rachel. Believe me, I was so tempted to keep right on going. I appreciate your feedback!
Wow! You’re a great storyteller. At first, I was nervous this was a scary situation. I am so happy you had a positive outcome from this.
Such an amazing and heartbreaking story, yo really never know what someone is going through
That is absolutely correct. No one is exempt from life’s problems.
You are such a great story teller! Heartbreaking but so good!!
Thanks for saying so. I appreciate you for reading.
Wow, this is such a neat story. Thank you for sharing! You never know who’s life you are touching!
Thanks!
Wow, your story drew me and I definitely didn’t see this ending coming! A little kindness and empathy goes a long way. I’m so glad that you were able to cross paths.
Yes, you’re right. Kindness & empathy does go a long way. We need more in the world nowadays.
Wow! Absolutely incredible story. You were definitely in the right place at the right time, thank goodness.
Thank you for sharing this! Kindness matters and even though we might not know it at the time…you can change someone’s life, including your own!
Sometimes you find yourself just exactly where you’re needed!
Amazing story. We most likely miss out on a lot of blessings, by not being flexible enough to be used in helping someone else. We get so busy and focused.
That is so true. Had I not been alone, I may have blown her off.
I’m so thankful God sent you to her at the exact moment she needed you and that you didn’t run. I probably would have. I hope she gets the help she needs.
I definitely thought about running.
Lovely story & I find often times where I wonder what comment, smile or moment can really make a difference… reach out to others!
Wow, I couldn’t take my eyes away from reading this! It was well written. God works in mysterious ways! So thankful she reached out to you, and you ended up being there for her. You saved a life!
Thank you! I’m glad God used me! I wished He’d given me a warning first tho.
First of all, yes, I do watch Criminal Minds along with Lifetime Movie Network, and I would have been very hesitant to go anywhere with this chick. But, God placed you both there at the right time and he needed you to be there for her. I’m glad you were there for her and hope it all works out for the young lady. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t think I would’ve went if we were not in a public place…I’m glad I was there, but it was intense at first. I thought I was going to have to put my karate practice to work.
you are a great storyteller! I had to read the whole thing!
Thank you!
Vanessa, you listened to the Holy Spirit in a moment when this woman needed you. He has given you a very special ministry, and I think that you are honoring that. Thanks for this amazing story, I like most of your readers, couldn’t get to the end fast enough to see where it all took you. Blessings sister.
Blessings to you as well.
Thanks for making me cry! God does work in mysterious ways and wow to be an answer to her pray that day.
What an amazing story and you told it so well. I read every word!
This story gave me chills. Your an amazing writer! This is such a beautiful message.
Thank you for the encouragement AND for stopping by!
Wow. You never know what life might throw at you 😭
So very true!
Wow, thankfully you were there for her. I have to admit, I am a true crime junkie and all sorts of things came into my head. You have a way with words.
Thank you…. I just knew I was being punk’d!
wow…talk about being placed in the right place at the right time….
It’s good you did go for coffee, and spend some time with them.
This is a beautiful post. I do hope you to keep in contact. I am glad she could find help in the moment she needed it the most.
I’ve often wondered if people who’ve had so much cosmetic surgeries suffered emotionally in anyway. I think I will keep my well earned lines. Beautifully written and shared.
Thank you…I’ll keep my well earned lines as well.
Wow, what a good reminder to be sure to take time for people, especially the time to pray with them. Thanks for this reminder. I hope she is healing now and getting the help she needs.
Wow! that’s a great story! I love the way you write and your sense of humor! Thanks for sharing that!
I’m so glad you were able to be there for her in her moment of need.
What an incredible life changing moment for you and her! How crazy that God put you both in Walmart on the same day after not seeing each other for over 30 years.
Oh absolutely! It took me some time (even afterwards) to believe it.
Amazing. What’s scary is that many of us would have just walked off and gone about our own business because it was such an odd encounter.
So very true…I didn’t know what to do – especially in the beginning.
That was an amazing story! I love how God works all the details so intimately. Glad you were sensitive to where He was leading (without even knowing it).
Absoulutely-without even knowing it.
I read this amazing story and thought… God sends Angels to those in need. Sometimes we GET the Angel… sometimes we ARE the Angel. You made a GREAT Angel 🙂 and I’m sure God saw that, but He already knew you would be.
Wow! Thank you. I’m glad I was there to help her during this crisis. It was an intense situtaion.
Ohmygosh, what a beautiful story. You are truly a gift.
Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your encouragement.
This is an absolutely amazing and beautifully written story. This situation could have gone in so many different ways. I would have been worried just as you were, but I am so glad that it turned out the way it did!