Abused and Sitting on a Sidewalk

This past weekend, I was walking south on Kensington Ave, past Martin's Deli.  A few yards in front of me, I saw a human form balled up on that sidewalk somewhat propped against the wall. [1] 

Male?  Female?  Did not matter…

Breathing?  Not Breathing?  That did matter…

Walking closer, I determined that which did not matter.  She's a woman…

Breathing?  Hhmmm…  Not sure…

"Hello!”  Tap on her knee then shoulder…

Shake her shoulder…

No reaction and definitely not breathing…

A rugged man of Hispanic descent who I'd never met saw the situation, came over and assisted…

We sat this apparently unknown woman up and she flopped back in near deadness onto the sidewalk behind her.  Her eyes rolled back in true near-death style. 

"Cricket!"  I shouted!  I'd not seen her in several months…

The motion was enough to reawaken her.  With disorientation in her countenance, she looked at me as she sat there in a deep high. 

I sat down on that sidewalk with her and the man started to cry…

"I was scared for you Miss.  I'm glad you're ok…  Your friend (me) obviously cares about you." 

He looked more specifically at me and continued...

"You've got me crying as you're sitting on the sidewalk with her.  People who do what you do don't do that."

Kassidy said that same sort of thing a few months ago. 

*****

Why am I so comfortable sitting on a sidewalk with a person in their state of being 'high' or just back from 'doing a date'?  Why can I sit down with an addicted man, woman, or person in transition and just chat about the random stuff of life?

It's out of my brokenness, my years of being the receiver of verbal abuse by classmates and 'professionals' who should have known better, that I can relate to these people.  

These human beings are Medicaid neglected and far too often verbally abused patients with Substance Use Disorder who live on the streets and deserve so much better than that which our society serves.  

I tell them each and every day that they are an inspirational human being made in the image of God and worthy of dignity, honor, respect, and love. 

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[1] https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x89c6c826fb11a849%3A0x766e4a3cbed12e99!3m1!7e115!4s%2Fmaps%2Fplace%2Fmartin%27s%2Bdeli%2Bphiladelphia%2Bpa%2F%4039.9911447%2C-75.1231001%2C3a%2C75y%2C332.72h%2C90t%2Fdata%3D*213m4*211e1*213m2*211swEnaUuv2CmzgUyLkNGhfvw*212e0*214m2*213m1*211s0x89c6c826fb11a849%3A0x766e4a3cbed12e99%3Fsa%3DX!5smartin%27s%20deli%20philadelphia%20pa%20-%20Google%20Search!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e2!2swEnaUuv2CmzgUyLkNGhfvw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirkIiJ75fzAhXkUjUKHe3CCAsQpx96BAhXEAM