As I entered the restroom I heard the water faucet at the sink the second sink where the pressure seems to be way too high. I wasn't really thinking of anything other than peeing. There was a man get that stink. He looked to be roughly five feet seven or eight, black and mid late 30s, I would imagine. He spoke loudly towards me, "Oh this is exactly what I didn't want anyone to see." I ignored him, went to the urinal, and did my business. The water was still running violently in the sink. It finally stopped and I briefly heard the hand blow dryer.
Finished, I turned to the first sink. He was standing in the way. I excused myself. He slowly turned around with a half smile. My eyes were immediately drawn to the fact that he was wearing a full colostomy bag. The bloody fluid was an incredible shock. I was speechless. My eyes slowly rose to his. His seemed to dance as if he was enjoying himself.
"Hey man you got some money? Stage 4 cancer. You got some money for medicine and medical bills?" Still stunned, I muttered that I didn't have any money on me. His eyes almost seemed to be laughing more so than expressing disappointment. You didn't plead with me. As I made my way to the door, his eyes looked to be asking me, "What's wrong with you?" I stared noticing that although he was slight in build, he had hair and didn't look at all to be ill. I'm not a doctor, but he did not look at all unwell. As well, his sink showed no signs of use, no blood or fluids.
First the guilt. I always try to do the right thing. I try to help people where I can. I felt very guilty here at first. Was this man truly in need? I was suddenly and unlapsed Catholic. I prayed for this man, I prayed for myself. I mean, even if he was a con man as I suspected, how desperate would you need to be in order to pull such a prank? I walked around the perimeter of the building and prayed a little more.
On the first level of the building is a thrift store I walked in and tried to clear my head. I just wandered around. I noticed a middle-aged woman employee who I had never seen before. I don't know why, but I unloaded the whole story on her. She was somehow a cross between compassion and perversely enjoying the story. She told me not to let it ruin my day. She added that she would talk to the maintenance man to keep an eye out for the guy. I told her that I would tell him myself. I did and at least he didn't seem to be suppressing laughter.
There's a grocery store about a mile away. I walked there enjoying the December air. My mind reevaluated my reevaluations of the incident. The guy was a phony.
