8:20 am I was walking past the Subway station, glimpsing around to find the correct train heading to Narrowsburg. The train leaves in ten minutes, and I’m already lost in the crowd of people trying to push past them. 

“Train 709 … 709,” I mumbled as I brushed through the end of the 600s trains. 

As I was walking fast, my phone buzzingly vibrated as I ran to get to my train. I took a quick glimpse at my phone, and it was my boyfriend, but I neglected his calls and kept running until I almost ran over an old lady.

“Hey, young woman, watch where you’re going,” the old lady muttered. 

My anger started to rise more frantically, worrying that I would miss my train. 8:25 I passed a man selling necklaces and bracelets that he claimed was handmade. What a jerk! Who would buy these stupid bracelets in such an hour, just blocking the way for many people around? I kept thinking what a strange job he has, why wouldn’t he just apply at a supermarket or a fast-food restaurant and make it easy on himself. He’s trying to torture himself with what he’s doing. I finally reached train 709 and sat at an empty chair and put my backpack in the chair next to it. While I was getting my headphones, I heard a weak high pitched voice.

“Excuse me, young lady, can you move your belongings so I can sit down?”

I looked up, and it was the same lady I almost ran over a few minutes ago. I gave her a weak smile knowing that it was the annoying lady that raised my anger, but I moved my backpack on the floor. I put my headphones in and looked out the window. Twenty minutes later, the old lady fell asleep and started to snore loudly. 

“Oh God, I have to spend the two hours hearing this lady vigorously snore,” I began to say. 

Thirty minutes later, and the old lady woke up. My phone started buzzing again; it was still my boyfriend. That’s probably his tenth time calling. 

“Why don’t you answer that sweet boy of yours? I’m sure he’s anxious about you,” the Lady questioned. 

“We argued yesterday, and I don’t have the effort to answer him. He broke my heart,” I stated while tears began to pile in my eyes. 

“Well, what did he do?” She asked.

I am annoyed at her, why is she even talking to me, she doesn’t even know me. 

“He’s moving to another state because of college, and he promised me not to leave me,” I uttered as tears ran down my cheeks. 

“You should be happy for him that he has an opportunity for him to reach his dreams. When is he leaving?” 

“September,” I replied. 

“You still have four months with him why cause a problem when you have weeks and months to enjoy and have a good time with him,” the lady exclaimed. “Enjoy today and don’t worry about tomorrow before the time runs out and end up regretting it.”

“It’s fine, I will take a few weeks off to calm myself down, either way, I know he will still be waiting for me,” I said as I brushed the thoughts of him.

“You don’t want to take things for granted. It doesn’t mean he’s waiting for you; then, you have time to do everything you want. I told you, and If you don’t want to listen to what I said, then don’t but remember what I said.” she replied disappointedly. 

A few hours later and I finally arrived at Narrowsburg. It was such a beautiful village, and I am so glad that I took my time here to ease all my pain away. 

12:30 Finally, I can have time by myself, I thought as I was walking to breathe and think peacefully, not until a man approached me with a smile, “Necklaces! Bracelets! Would you like to buy one?” 

I wasn’t feeling like talking to anyone, especially with someone who’s going to ruin my peace like this man, he was the same one who almost got my late to my train (ironically, he took the same one).

“No. I am good. Why would you even sell such useless pieces when you can apply for a job with steady pay and a respected position? ” I replied coldly.

“I didn’t choose to do this job. I am trying to collect money to pay for my daughter’s expenses in the hospital. She got into an accident.” 

He went on with the conversation I wasn’t interested in and said, “Also, if you’re not willing to buy one, you should change how you see things anyways. You shouldn’t judge someone by what they do or how they look without knowing what they have to tell you.”

“I will take this one.” I bought one so he would stop telling me about his problems, which I don’t want to think about or blame myself for. 

I am trying to take time off, yet everyone is trying to teach me their life lessons.

Finally! Now is the time to take a walk or visit a museum then get some food. 

I decided to get food first while walking in the cool breeze.

Not until my phone keeps buzzing for 5 minutes continuously (even though it was on silent). It kept buzzing till I got mad and was ready to explode on whoever was behind this unknown number. Begrudgingly, I finally answered the call, only to be greeted by the voice of a police officer. He confirmed my identity and then proceeded to report to me some shocking information.

“I’m sorry to inform you, miss, but your boyfriend was found in a car accident and is in critical condition. Currently, he’s being taken to Oak Creek Hospital…” The rest of his words seemed to haze away as my heartbeat quickened, and my breaths became short and rapid. My mind blanked for a good minute as I subconsciously ended the call, standing frozen. My thoughts returned as my panic increased, and I rushed to get on the earliest subway to my hometown with nothing else on my mind but my boyfriend—almost as if I was on some heightened auto-pilot.

Once I arrived at the hospital, I quickly went through the receptionist and headed to the room I was directed to. When I opened the door, I saw my boyfriend lying on the bed, covered in bandages with an IV drip attached to his arm. Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned away. I couldn’t bear the sight. Almost as if on cue, the doctor entered the room, detailing the specifics of my partner’s condition.

“He’s lost too much blood. Right now, he is in need of a donor,” the doctor said. “What’s your blood type, miss?”

“A positive,” I said, shakily. I knew my blood type didn’t match his. It felt as if my world was breaking down. In fact, it actually was, and it was lying on the bed two feet away from me.

“Do you happen to know any one of the type O negative who could possibly be a donor?”

“No. No, I don’t, doctor,” I said, feeling hot, salty tears trail down my face. “Please, doctor. Please help him. I’ll pay you hundreds- no- thousands of dollars. Just please help him.”

He let out a sigh. “I’m sorry, miss, but at the moment, I can’t do anything. Sometimes what you find helpful might not always solve the problem.”

It felt as if all my grief was crashing down on me at once. My legs grew shaky as I fell to my knees, and my surroundings suddenly deafened. Regret and guilt filled my mind. Regret for the last words I said to him, the last moment we shared, and blame for what could have possibly been my fault. Maybe if I didn’t leave, he wouldn’t be unconscious in a hospital bed at the moment, suffering through massive blunt trauma and blood loss. But then I reminded myself that he wasn’t gone just yet, and with my small bit of hope, I regained a fraction of my strength. I walked out of the room where my boyfriend was staying and called for the doctor. I found the doctor, and I told him I had a revolution. I went and looked for anyone and asked them if they can help, went around all the cities in NYC, went to the village. Finally, I decided to go back to the village. I know it’s about 2 hours or so, but I can’t give up, I need someone willing to donate blood to my boyfriends. 

Two hours later, I began walking in the streets, asking people for blood. I felt strange and weird because I never realized I would need help from strange, ordinary people I never even met. I kept walking and looking around until I found that old man, still trying to sell his bracelets. I ran up to him, urgently asking him for help. 

“Excuse me, sir, I know this sounds weird, but are you an o minus blood by any chance?” I desperately asked him. 

“I actually am, but wait aren’t you the girl I met earlier today?” the guy answered me in a glazing look. 

“Yes, that’s me. I know I was being rude and criticizing you for something you have no control over. My boyfriend, my boyfriend,” tears came running through my eyes while I talked to him. 

“What about your boyfriend?” still giving me that glazed look.

“He got into an accident, and he needs a blood donor, and I looked all over different cities and towns, and no one can help me out. Can you please please help me out and donate blood to my boyfriend? I can’t let him die. I promise I will pay you everything you need for your daughter to do her surgery.” I continued ranting to him with my eyes full of tears. 

“You see, not everything you find helpful can solve the problems you have. You might have a lot of money, but that won’t help you in getting the blood donor you’re looking for. You can’t judge people for what they do to get money. You don’t even know my whole story and how I become into this position of selling bracelets and necklaces for my sick daughter,” he replied with tearful eyes. 

“I am so sorry, sir. I really am, I shouldn’t judge people for how they look or what they do to earn for their living. I even met an old lady earlier today, and I regret all that I did, and she was right. I was so inconsiderate and selfish; I only thought of myself,” I sobbed to him. 

“I will help you out because that’s the right thing to do, and I would greatly appreciate it if you pay the money for my daughter as you said earlier” he wiped his eyes with his sleeves. 

“I need to pay you back for what you’re doing; I will do everything you want, thank you so much,” I replied with a hopeful smile. As we walked to the train station, my heart was happy. I hurt this man’s feelings, and I was rude to him, and now I am asking him for a favor, so I need to pay him back. We didn’t talk that much, I asked about his daughter, and he told me that she has brain trauma and her medication is too expensive for them. We sat silently looking at the window, while I played all the scenes and things that happened today inside my head. 

Two hours later, we reached New York City, and I ran to the hospital. I introduced the doctor to the man, and he took some of his information and paperwork to make sure everything is right. He transferred the blood to my boyfriend, and the doctor told me that my boyfriend should start to wake up in the next 8 hours. My heart is relieved; I could have lost him because of my ignorance. 

“Thank you so much, sir, I do appreciate everything you did. Thank you for also teaching me a lesson because if I hadn’t met you today, I probably would be still looking in the streets trying to find someone” I gave him a warm smile. 

“I am glad that I was placed in your life today so you can realize your mistakes and fix them before your ignorance gets too far,” he told me. 

I opened my purse and gave him a check with more money than he even needed for his daughter’s surgery. 

“That’s too much young lady; I can’t accept that. I will only take what I nee…” 

“After all you did today, I need to pay you for being considerate and patient with me. You helped me with something I need, and I definitely need to help you with what you need,” I softly replied. 

A smile glared upon his face, and he hugged me tightly thanking me while happy tears came running down his face. “I’m really sorry I want to come with you, but I hope your daughter feels better, and if you need anything, let me know,” I stated while I gave him a paper with my name and phone number. 

“Olivia, that’s my daughter’s name,” he smiled and farewelled me with a goodbye. 

A lot of times, we take things for granted that we end up valuing after we lose them. If it wasn’t for the old lady I met earlier going to Narrowsburg, I wouldn’t have appreciated my boyfriend. Make memories even if it’s your last moments with someone, and don’t worry about the time where you might separate. Enjoy today before it’s too late. If it weren’t for this poor old guy, I wouldn’t have been able to help my boyfriend out. Never underestimate someone for their abilities or values. Don’t criticize people for what they do because little do we know; each person has a story to tell that tells a purpose for where they are in this life. Little things do matter in this life, whether it’s a compliment that warms someone’s hurt or even being considerate to someone and asking about them.