Proceed with caution

Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?

It sounded like such a life-and-death decision, for what was left of my life anyway. I can’t say that was much — without a job, a place to sleep, my wife of 20 years, what did I have left to lose? My bank account contained a princely sum of $7.50, may as well just get this over with.

We held eye contact for what seemed like several eternities, until I conceded with a sigh, “sure, go ahead”. At this point I was hardly there anyway — physically, sure, but my mind was taking a nice holiday somewhere sunny and warm, where everything, and everyone, was free.

I was jerked back to the present moment by the sound of the other man’s voice, he looked equally confused and regretful. “I’m really sorry about this”. Great. You’re sorry, I’m sorry, we’re all sorry, but “sorry” won’t give me my old life back.

“What have you got to be sorry for? You’re just doing your job”

He explained the situation and I walked out, I didn’t even care anymore. His final words echoed in my head: “I’m sorry sir, we have a $10 EFTPOS minimum”.