This is a bit sad

So I am crossing through a couple of parking lots on my way to work and as I start to turn a corner I hear the screaming and crying of what sounds like a woman. I approach the corner with caution and try to take a wide berth not knowing what is going on.

As I round the corner and look into the upcoming parking lot I see a young woman in the far corner crying and screaming into a phone and saying why would leave me homeless and some other words I cannot make out. I begin to cross the parking lot and continue to hear bits and pieces that she is mad about not having a place to live and being put out by some guy.

In today’s world it is hard to determine if she is just making a scene, in sincere distress or somewhere in between. I am at a loss at what to do. I do not think I should call 911 because I cannot tell how bad of a situation she is in. She is a young woman wearing long pants, a shirt and had what appeared to be a lanyard with what I perceived to be a work ID, but I cannot say for sure.

The conversation continues while I cross this smaller parking lot. There are a couple of larger ones I traverse, but this particular one was smaller and I think a bit more private since she was basically behind a building. I am trying to decide what to do. Again in today’s world you fear interfering because of all the madness you read about, yet you cannot walk away from someone in distress. So this is the second sad situation in this story, the first being the fact she was in a situation, the second now being helping someone may be dangerous. 

So I did walk past and decided I could internet search for women’s protective services or something and call them and ask their advice or see what they say. The first number that came up in the search was the National Hotline for domestic abuse. I thought to myself this may not be domestic abuse, but a national hotline might know what type of resources I should pursue.

Well I call the number and there was a fifteen minute hold time. Sort of flabbergasted me and I am thinking someone in dire straights probably doesn’t have fifteen minutes to hold. Obviously a true abusive situation could call 911, but it seemed a bit sad that the main help line is so backed up or so understaffed that someone needing their help would have to wait so long. It is not like I am pissed of at some corporate customer service, this is real life going on here. 

So all in all, I felt helpless, confused and worried. I stayed around the corner, but where I could keep an eye on her trying to decide if I should approach. Within a few minutes she eventually walked off and I watched for a moment, probably looking like a creep watching her, but she eventually walked to a convenience store so hopefully she was able to compose herself and work something out. And again I was under the impression she at least had a job since she was wearing a lanyard with what looked like an ID on it. 

So is our society so far gone from being able to help each other or am I just a bit of a worry wart? I do not know. I eventually spoke to a police officer I see regularly and he said I could have called 911 even though I wasn’t sure if it was an emergency. At least someone would have been able to approach her and checked on her he said. It wouldn’t have hurt and if no harm everyone goes about their business.

So I still carry the worry, helplessness and confusion about this situation from this morning, with no real answer where I can feel comfortable. I shouldn’t, but I do. Still it seems sad to me on the few points I mentioned in that a person’s normal instinct to help is tempered and of being unsure of what to do to help.

Any thoughts?