I had a meeting with clients in Chinatown. We played out a million and one different "if-then" legal strategies. At the end of lunch, I could feel a sharp twinge in my head -- from thinking too much -- and quickly left the restaurant. I was a little fearful. I hadn't felt this for a while. I turned down a side street. I thought maybe I should take a pill, just to be careful. Then I felt it happen again. The sharp twinge. Now I really started to get scared. I was a long way from my office and all alone.
What if it got worse?
Two young fellas, baseball hats turned backwards, lounging on skate boards in an abandoned storefront, noticed my look of panic. One asked if everything was ok. I was fingering a pill from my purse and all I could think of was I needed to take the pill. Where was I going to get water? I confessed I needed water. I kept walking, growing increasingly more confused. I paused when a rough looking lady behind me said, "they'll get you water."
What could she possibly mean?
Then I noticed one of the young guys running into the closest sundry store. That market didn't have water so I saw him run across the street. He came out of the second market with a bottle of water and gave it to me. I could see him jingling change in his pocket and I said, "Oh no, you had to buy the water!" I thought quickly, but I only had credit cards — how could I pay him back?
He nodded and said, "That’s alright" and took off on his skateboard, flying down the street. I was able to take my pill and walk back to my office.
I was stunned by the experience of perfect strangers coming together to help me.
I wished I could thank my angels…