Random Encounters

As I left work today, I noticed a man sitting on an upturned coffee can next to, but somewhat behind, the dumpster. The thermometer in the car read 104. The man had a small paper bag with a large can of beer in it to the side of him, and what appeared to be a large lighter in front of him. He looked as if he was trying to be very very small, like he was trying to disappear. I tried to unobtrusively, but more importantly, unobviously, hurry to my car, where surely I would be safe within it. No begging, no heartfelt pleas for cash, no leering glances, no propositions.As I settled in, turned on the AC, I looked over at the man and saw that he was crying.God.Dammit.Leaving my bag in the car and thinking myself right ballsy for not locking it as I ventured ten feet away, I haltingly approached the man. I have never seen such despair that was not on the news or in a National Geographic. He looked broken, beyond repair. Not having shielded myself before I approached, because I had obnoxiously assumed that this was just some midday drunk, I was rewarded with a swift psychic kick to the innards."Um," (uncomfy pause) "are you okay?" (Brilliant opener! Of course he's fine! He's just crying behind a dumpster at 2pm drinking beer 'cause things are swell!)Turns out, he was where he was because his wife of 25 years had just left him. He had no family, no friends to turn to.I hate that because my jobs and my life have left me so jaded that my initial instinct is *always* "He reported..." which leaves all kinds of room for the assumption that "He" is full of shit. "Client reported he couldn't pay his rent because he bought a one-of-a-kind samurai sword." (Well, okay that one was true, except for the "one-of-a-kind" part, but I didn't want to burst his bubble.) "Client stated that he has been clean for three weeks." (Client is jumpier than a jackrabbit and has suddenly developed "seasonal allergies.")I felt awful that there was really nothing I could do to help him. I felt even worse considering all of the shitty assumptions I had made about him in just a couple of minutes. I told him he could go to my office if he needed help and walked away. "Take care."He nodded, sniffed, and looked up at me, eyes red-rimmed but clear as daylight. "Thank you."