Strange Encounters

[chrisvenus]

Tuesday night I had a rather unusual runin with somebody. I feel a little more intro is needed than just he beginning of the story because it starts with the rather uneventful situation of me walking down the street on tesday night and seeing a car.

Yeah, that was never going to grip you. The car was turning into a road I was about to cross so I waited and being nosey glanced at the occupants. I didn't see the driver but saw the passenger (who was on my side of the car) who was looking back at me. Then I crossed the road and continued on into Worcester.

I wandered to my destination and was foiled briefly by building works and as I started to double back on myself a young lad, probably early 20s I'd guess, student kind of age, comes up to me and asks if I mind talking for a bit.

I had no idea who he was but he was looking very agitated, nervous and something else I can't quite put into words. I initially took him to be a hyper stressed student. Somebody having a really fucking bad night and just out for a walk or something and just wanting to get his mind off work. He certainly didn't seem threatening (or at least I didn't feel threatened).

So I stopped and chatted. Asked him what was up and so on and so forth. He told me quite openly that he'd been in and out of hospital recently and was having a bad time. I can kind of sympathise with this. I've never had to go to hospital for any of my problems but I can relate to being in a real down patch and needing to get out of it.

I'm not sure exactly what was up with him in medical terms but what he told me gives the general idea. He told me that he thought he was going to hell. He told me this perfectly seriously such that I knew he beleived it but he also said it with just a hint of knowing that it made him sound a bit crazy. He was almost apologetic about it.

I tried to be as reassuring as I could, told him that you don't get to know about these things and that enerally repentance does the job of getting over this but I wasn't sure what I could say.

This all came out quite quickly in the conversation so we haven't been talking long. But it was when he said something about "You looked like a good person to talk to" that I realised that the vague hint of recognition was because this was the passenger in the car that had passed me down the road. For whatever reason he'd obviously decided that I was somebody he needed to talk to so he'd followed me into a college to chat.

I had no real idea how to proceed. I was mant to be doing stuff but I wasn't going to just tell him he was on his own so I chatted for a while. Turns out he was an artist and in hindsight I suspect that some of his problems were probably severe enough for a proper full time job to be beyond him (I'm not dissing artists, I just get the impression he didn't make a living from it so much as a hobby). After about ten minutes his dad comes along which is a great relief since I now know there is somebody to look after him - I suspect thinking you are going to hell is a good reason not to try to kill yourself or be that extreme but I suspect also that its not going to stop self harm or a number of other things.

I had told him I was busy and explained a bit of what I was up to and talked about roleplaying. He seemed interested and asked if he could come along and although I told him he'd be welcome I suggested that it would be awkward that evening and gave him a website url instead so he could contact people if he wanted to. He headed off with his Dad not long after that.


It was a very strange experience. It was scary in some ways because I could see a lot of me in his behaviours and some of what he said, I am very greatful though that I don't seem to have problems as severe as his. I don't know if I did manage to help him or not, I hope I did a bit at least. I also can't help but wonder what it was that made me look like a good person to talk to. Maybe just because I caught his eye as he passed in the car did it. It must have been a pretty strong feeling though to follow me 100 yards down the road and then track me through college...

I'm not sure what the point of this story is. I just felt it was something I didn't want to forget and therefore I should write down.

Comments

[mejoff.livejournal.com]

"told him that you don't get to know about these things and that enerally repentance does the job of getting over this"

Best possible response under the circumstances.

[chrisvenus]

I did also add that I personally didn't believe in hell but yeah, not a lot else you can say really.

[cultureofdoubt.livejournal.com]

Kind of reminds me of this. But without all the weird stuff of course. Seems there are some people this stuff just happens to. Original (text) story which I've not read.

[chrisvenus]

Just read that original story. Its very cool.

[chrisvenus]

Just got around tow atching the short film. I think I prefer the ending of the film. I'm still trying to decide whether I prefer the main body of the text or if that is just because I read it first and so the differences of the film felt wrong. I think the film is catching up as I let it settle in though...

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

wonder what it was that made me look like a good person to talk to

You definitely do look like a good person to talk to: I thought that when I first met you.

Not sure what it is, maybe the hair ;-)

[danfossydan.livejournal.com]

I think thats a really nice complement.
May be you look troubled and coping with it?

[chrisvenus]

Perhaps. I did wonder about that but I think you'd have to be pretty damn perceptive to pick up something like that. Not to sayit isn't possible of course.

[danfossydan.livejournal.com]

I really beleive that messed up people are super sensitive sometimes. Far more than I could possibly beleive real.

Part imaginged may be, but part real too. Being crazy (like I have been) seemed to give me insight, into how other people were thinking.

Empathy overload. Messed me up, but I miss not being that way too in part.

[danfossydan.livejournal.com]

I really beleive that messed up people are super sensitive sometimes. Far more than I could possibly beleive real.

Part imaginged may be, but part real too. Being crazy (like I have been) seemed to give me insight, into how other people were thinking.

Empathy overload. Messed me up, but I miss not being that way too in part.

[chrisvenus]

Thank you. I hadn't really expected that kind of a responsebut it does make me feel all happy inside. :)

So do you reckon I'm like Samson then and if I cut all my hair off I'll lose my power? :)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Either that or, like Simpson, if you go bald you'll get fat.

[gently-snoozing.livejournal.com]

Your Luke 10 moment then? Not entirely surprising considering how nice you are, that said looking trustworthy?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what the point of this story is. I just felt it was something I didn't want to forget and therefore I should write down.

A pure LJ reason ;-)

wonder what it was that made me look like a good person to talk to.

I think you do to. Although I couldn't say why.

And it may be more of a curse than a blessing. But it'll provide you with an interesting life.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

too even.

And maybe undyingking is right and it's the hair.

[magicalsushi.livejournal.com]

Very weird story. I wonder if these things happen outside of Oxford?

[chrisvenus]

I blame Torchwood. I was quite looking forward to watching series 2 as we did series one but weeknights just don't lend themselves too it anywhere near as much.

And yes, its possible I will see more of you. Want to link characters for next game? :)

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

You didn't ask, but I don't think anyone could have handled the situation any better than you actually did do. :-)