Mental Health Stories

Perspective

I frantically scanned my list of items needed for dinner tonight.

I need to buy all of this, cook dinner, take care of the kids, and finish grading the essays I didn't finish this morning.

All by tonight.

I breezed around, checking each item off as I grabbed it.

Tomatoes are on the other side of the store.

I checked the time.

I have to go pick up my kids from school soon.

Upon reaching the produce aisle I discovered two girls making out in front of my tomatoes.

"Excuse me? I'm kind of in a rush. Could you move. . . please?" I tried to scoot around them unsuccessfully because their cart was also blocking the prized tomatoes.

One of the girls gave me an apologetic smile. "Could you come back in a few minutes, please? We're kind of. . . dealing with something."

I frowned. "I'm in a hurry. Don't you think it's a bit inconsiderate to be getting all handsy in public and blocking the items of the store? The world doesn't revolve around you."

The shorter girl suddenly jerked out of the other girl's arms, revealing red, swollen eyes. Her breathing was rapid and she was shaking. Her fingers tapped nervously against her side.

"Are you high?" I gasped astonished. "The younger generation these days! You should be ashamed!"

The girl I assumed to be on drugs rubbed the sides of her head and winced in pain. "S-Sorry!"

She suddenly started speed-walking away, paused after a few steps, and her head snapped back and forth as if she was lost.

The other girl hurriedly reached her side and tried to grab her hand but was roughly shoved away.

She tried again. "Hey, it's okay. You're going to be okay."

The shorter one didn't answer but allowed her to take her hand this time.

I watched the two of them make their way to the exit and realised they left their full cart still in front of the tomatoes!

I angrily stormed after them only to see a store employee chasing after them.

"Stop!" the worker called. "Are you on drugs? This store has an anti-drug policy in place. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

The girl in question seemed to snap and turned towards the worker. "I'd be trying to leave if annoying people like you wouldn't stop me and accuse me of drugs! I'm fine! Just leave me the fuck alone."

The employee backed off and started to call security.

The girl who had just yelled turned towards her girlfriend, tears pooling in her eyes. "It hurts," she whispered. "It's so loud. My head just—"

She slowly started to crumple on the ground, curling inwards and clutching at her head.

By this point, people were staring and crowding around them.

They were whispering and talking while some were laughing.

Her girlfriend immediately crouched down and started to pull her into her arms. "I know it hurts you. I'm proud of you for trying. Do you need me to carry you to the car?"

Security rushed over. "Ma'am. We're going to have to escort you out. You two are causing a scene and making our other customers uncomfortable. We don't condone any of this behaviour."

The taller one carefully stood with her teary-eyed and shaky girlfriend in her arms. "No escort necessary, thank you."

They exited leaving the guards, employees, and customers confused and irritated.