The Real World
Every week, I visit a psychologist. The office is in Clayton, and because there was construction going on in front of the building this week, I parked several blocks away. I had parked in a public parking lot in front of the county jail. After my appointment, I walked back to the parking lot, and when I reached the edge of the lot, I glanced into the window of a car. Sitting in the car was a man. He was holding a knife, and stabbing himself in the arm. There was blood on his shirt, all over his car, and on his knife.
I almost started to cry. This is what happens when people think there are no consequences. Regaining my ability to think, I walked towards the jail. Standing outside, was a police officer, who I quickly ran over to and started to tell my story. The police officer stopped me short, and explained that he was taking a cigarette break, and that I needed to go inside to find someone to help. This is what happens when people think there are no consequences. I ran inside, and quickly told the guard sitting next to the metal detector at the door. He said that he would get someone to go out there, and that I could leave. As I walked back to my car, I could not help but notice people walking along the sidewalk right past this poor man covered in blood, and doing nothing but trying to look away. This is what happens when people think there are no consequences.
I drove all the way home at twenty miles per hour. I stopped before entering every intersection green light or not. I thought of all of the people who I saw, and their indifference towards other people, and even towards themselves.