The Long Night I Will Never Forget

The Long Night I Will Never Forget.

I drove my car into the 24/7 gas station after a long journey along a quiet country road. It was about 10pm and I was the only person at the gas station. The lights pierced the darkness with a radiance that reflected my mood and while driving for long hours with a few short breaks had left me feeling very deflated, the thoughts of the ultimate destination at my sister’s home lit up my persona and defeated the darkness. Tomorrow we would be having a family celebration and I would connect with family members I hadn’t seen for a long time. This experience would make the long drive very worthwhile. As I filled the tank at the gas pump I focused on the lights and my bright emotions and I went into the facility to pay for the gas.

There was a lady behind the counter who would have been in her fifties. She had dark hair and pale smooth facial skin. I smiled at her but she didn’t smile back and her whole demenour was unfriendly and angry and I wanted to pay for the gas and get back to my car but this was never going to happen. I paid the grumpy lady and hurried to the door and then I saw the moon falling from the night sky as someone was driving my car out of the gas station followed closely by another driver. When they disappeared around the corner my whole world fell apart. I had left my keys in the ignition and someone had taken the opportunity to get a free car which left me outraged and desperate. I walked back to the facility, sat down on the hard seat and took my phone out of my bag getting a quick response from the lady.

She shouted at me “ There is no phone reception here. Why don’t you leave and go on your way?” Her mean attitude was not helping and suddenly I heard a loud clap of thunder followed by a flash of lightening though the window. The weather was imitating the angry feelings I was experiencing after being involved with the negative responses people were giving me. I told her that my car had been stolen and she shook her head and put her head down and continued her work with no sympathy. All I could do was get a packet of chips and a drink off the shelf in the foodery, pay for them and sit down and satisfy my hunger and thirst. The rest of the night continued with no relief and an encounter with two more people who had no time for me.

A man came in and after I asked if he could drive me to the nearest town, he shook his head and kept walking to the counter. A lady came an hour later and when I asked for help she looked at me suspiciously and told me that she had given another stranger a lift and she had been abused. She would never do that again and hurried out the door leaving me feeling sorry for her and at the same time concerned about my well-being and I realised that asking a stranger for a lift could be putting me at risk. All I could do was sit on the chair for the rest of the night, thinking about my sister and how she would be feeling as she wondered why I had not arrived and where I was. I was physically and emotionally drained as the night dragged on and I remembered another time when I was isolated from family and friends during a time I had moved to the other side of the country for work. The phone calls did not make up for the lack of face to face contact but at least I could communicate with them which I couldn’t do now. Then suddenly I saw a bright light in the dark.

The lady behind the desk walked over and sat down next to me. She said “ I’m sorry for what you are going through and my mean attitude towards you. I am struggling with work and other issues in my life but that is no excuse for my behaviour.” I was moved to tears and held Mary’s hand as we were able to empathise with each other and our negative experiences. Outside the sun had risen in a cloudless blue sky and once again nature was walking with me as we shared ups and downs. The fine weather continued for the rest of the day with my comforting experiences.

At seven fifteen I was sitting in a red car next to a lady who was smiling at me. She had immediately offered to drive me to the nearest town when Mary had introduced me and I was happy to go with her as I felt safe. I said goodbye to Mary and wished her all the best for the future and walked out to the car with the Jess. When we arrived in the town and she parked in front of the police station I said goodbye and walked in to report the theft. I was able to use my phone to call my sister and explain what had happened. She was relieved and told me she would drive to the town and drive me back to her place about an hour away. I was looking forward to the family gathering and I reflected on the day which had had its ups and downs but had finished on a very positive note with kind and supportive people who had come into my life at the right time. I would never forget the way they had stepped in to help me when I had to spend the night in a Gas Station after two selfish people had stolen my car and driven away with no thoughts for the stranded motorist who had to spend a bleak night in a gas station without family or friends.