When you’re on a date, you can learn a lot about a person the way they treat waitstaff and other service workers. True kindness and empathy is for everyone, not just the people you want to impress. Kitty learned this the hard way when she tried to help a sick homeless man. Meanwhile, her boyfriend looked embarrassed by her actions. In fact, he threatened to break up with her if she didn’t stop but fortunately, she made the right choice. This story was inspired by a reader of AmoMama, where the incident was originally published.
Valentine’s Day’s Date
Kitty and Derek’s 11-month anniversary fell on Valentine’s Day so they decided to go all out. They had dated for less than a year but they were deeply in love and Kitty thought Derek might propose. They had a reservation at a black-tie restaurant overlooking the downtown area and Kitty bought a new dress for the occasion. It was chic with off-the-shoulder sleeves, a major change from the washed-out, shapeless scrubs she wore as a nurse.
However, the perfect evening ended before the couple even entered the restaurant. As Kitty and Derek approached the carpeted steps outside the doors, Kitty noticed a man collapse against a brick wall. He was pale with sweat pouring down his face, and rubbing the left side of his tattered sweater.
Kitty, who had become a nurse out of her altruistic nature, immediately came to the man’s side. Up close, he looked even more disheveled and unwashed, probably homeless. Kitty asked him if he was alright, and the man initially thanked her for her concerns but dismissed her. “I’m fine,” he said. In a bid to maintain his dignity, he straightened up and tried to smooth his clothes when he crumbled to the ground.
Forgetting her new dress, Kitty immediately kneeled down onto the filthy sidewalk. She called for Derek to call an ambulance while she checked the man’s pulse. It was growing weak; he was going into cardiac arrest. After he called 911, Derek put his hand on Kitty’s shoulder. “The ambulance is on its way. Get up now; this isn’t dignified.”
Split Up Or Save a Life
A small group of curious onlookers gathered around the man. Derek looked around, embarrassed, but Kitty took no notice of any of them. She was busy compressing the man’s chest and checking his breathing. Derek muttered to her to get up and let someone else do this; her hands were getting grimy by touching the collapsed man’s clothes and face. His grip tightened when she tilted the man’s head in preparation for CPR. “Kitty,” he hissed. “Leave it. Do not put your mouth on him. You don’t know what diseases he might have.”
Kitty brushed her boyfriend’s hand off of her shoulder. “He needs oxygen, Derek. Let me help him.”
“You’re not on the clock, right now,” Derek insisted. “If you don’t get up right now, don’t bother going into the restaurant. We’re over.” He stepped back, waiting for Kitty to follow him. But she didn’t.
“We’re over then,” she said and continued with her CPR. At this moment, she saw Derek’s true colors and she had no time to mourn this relationship; she needed to save this man’s life. Derek was stunned that she didn’t go after him. He yelled at Kitty something that went unheard over the crowded downtown traffic.
When the ambulance finally arrived, Kitty rode with the man to the hospital. At one point, he regained consciousness and smiled at her. Kitty calmly brought him up to speed. “My name is Kitty. You’ve had a heart attack but you’re stable now. You’re safe, you’re on the way to the hospital.”
The man thanked her, adding, “I’m fine,” mocking his earlier dismissal of her help. Kitty laughed and the man said his name is Charles before drifting off again. Once they arrived at the hospital, Kitty was left to wait in the lobby in her chic dress and high heels. Not where she had thought she’d spent Valentine’s Day.
Charles Reconnects With His Mother
The hospital happened to be the one Kitty worked at; so she was already on good terms with the administrator, who asked her for the man’s information. Of course, Kitty only knew his first name, but she found his phone among his possessions and found a contact number for “Mom.” Kitty called and informed her about her son’s situation. The woman was horrified and she rushed to the hospital. There, she thanked Kitty profusely for saving her son.
Soon, the doctor arrived with an update: Charles was recovering and they could see him. Kitty started to back away but Charles’ mother encouraged her to accompany her. Inside the room, Charles’ reunited with his mother for the first time in years, Kitty learned later. He thanked Kitty for saving him and for contacting his mother, who was in tears. She apologized to Charles and said how much she loved and missed him.
Afterward, the mother explained to Kitty that years ago, Charles refused to take over the family’s business; he was only interested in making films. His mother kicked him out of the house, thinking that would change his mind, but he didn’t. He actually got a few opportunities to explore his craft. But in the end, he was duped, left with nothing to show for it. Still, he refused to give up and go home, leading him into long-term malnutrition that brought on his heart attack despite his young age. His mother couldn’t forgive herself for this horrible outcome.
The Next Valentine’s Day
As he recovered, his mother would visit him every day and they began to repair their relationship. At the same time, Kitty would visit him at the end of her shifts. At first, she visited out of a feeling of responsibility but soon she visited because she enjoyed his company. They had the same sense of humor and they shared similar values. These visits grew longer and longer, and when Charles left the hospital, they continued to see each other but now as a couple.
Charles’ mother started to help fund his film endeavors, which embarked him on a successful career. At the premiere of his debut film, he proposed to Kitty who said yes. They got married on Valentine’s Day.
This story was inspired by an original piece of fiction that first appeared on AmoMama. Any similarities between this story and actual people are purely coincidental.