I first met Sasha about a year ago, crumpled in a corner on a city centre street. She struck such a pathetic picture that I couldn’t walk past her and stopped to offer some help. We got talking and I see her most weeks now at various locations about the ‘town’ as Belfast folk refer to it. We’ve built up a friendship of sorts, a level of trust whereby she has began to tell me a little of her past. Bit by bit I am learning her sad story.
Sasha isn’t her real name by the way, for reasons that will become clear later. She was born in Russia but moved to another Eastern European country at an early age. Her father wasn’t on the scene and for reasons I’m still not totally clear on neither was her mother. As such, she was raised by her grandparents. At some point, everything went wrong though and she found herself in Northern Ireland.
Sasha told me she was trafficked to the U.K. to sell drugs and operate as a sex worker. She is slowly unpeeling this layer of her story to me. Another homeless friend of mine, Maggie, told me Sasha used to sell heroin in the park. This surprised me at the time but is now beginning to make more sense. Maggie and Sasha don’t get on. Sasha says Maggie bullies her, Maggie says Sasha is a dealer.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. All I can say is what I see with my own eyes. I’ve never witnessed Sasha selling drugs, although they are rife throughout the city centre. She speaks good English, is intelligent, polite to a fault and has never asked me for anything. I’ve had to force money, drinks and food upon her in the past. She carries herself with pride and dignity.
She has a boyfriend, let’s call him Yuri, but I rarely see him. His pitch is on another street which doesn’t form part of my daily commute to and from work. Her pride and joy is her little black and white dog who is forever at her side. Cynics might say the little girl lost routine and cute dog are all part of the scam, to make mugs like me part with our loose change. Maybe, but I honestly don’t believe this is the case here.
She gets hassled a lot by men on the street. I witnessed such an incident the other day. She politely told the guy, a fellow rough sleeper, to go away but he persevered for some time before stumbling off, clearly under the influence of something. I felt awkward and uncomfortable. Sasha is streetwise, she can fight her own battles, but should I have intervened and said something?
Risked a punch to the head? A knife to the guts? But there I go throwing stereotypes around again. It’s so hard to get to the bottom of these people, you barely scratch the surface. I’ve joked to Sasha about interviewing her for my next book and next time I see her I’m giving her a copy of the first one. She’s a reader and seems intrigued that one of my main characters is a young homeless woman.
Our streets are saturated with such young, lost souls and they all have a story to tell. I can’t help them all but if we all do just a little bit more then we can collectively make a massive difference. So if you pass a Sasha today, or a Maggie or a Yuri stop and talk to them. Ask them how you can help. Even a five minute conversation can make all the difference to them. Show them you care.
Black Thoughts 
It is totally wonderful to reach out, showing love and compassion. When we take the time to listen, be a light, shining bright.
LikeLike
Thank you very much 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😇🙏🌸
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing, such a powerful encounter. 😊🙏
LikeLike
You’re welcome 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was very noble of u dear.A few days back I was traveling by an auto(a mode of transport in india) and the driver told me his story about how he lost all his loved ones in the village and only he survived since he was staying here in mumbai.He wished death for himself and I spoke to him for a while trying to give him some hope.i dont know how much it helped him but I was happy that I was there and he could vent out his emotions and anger instead of keeping it inside him
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s a sad tale. You sound like a lovely person 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that you stop and talk to homeless people. I often want to do that when I pass but the honest truth is I’m nervous. The vast majority of the homeless people I pass are men and I guess rightly or wrongly that makes me feel vulnerable. I wish I had the boldness to do what you do.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m more nervous around men as well so don’t feel too bad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I worked in our Nation’s capital city (Ottawa) I would often walk by an older gentleman who appeared to have been in the streets for some time. I always stopped and said hello and asked him how he was getting on, and we would chat for a few brief minutes about the weather or something as equally innocuous. He wore a wedding ring and I had asked after his wife one day and his reply was a sad smile, which, to me spoke volumes. It’s been some ten years since I left Ottawa and he still crosses my mind from time to time, and I always hope he’s wintered well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
both ends of a ladder are equal in importance and value, just as humans are. to save myself and the recipient any embarrassment i’ve adopted the technique of saying, “i just now found this dollar and i’m wondering if you could use it.” those words seem to reduce the natural tension between us. john
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice line John. Good for you 🙂
LikeLike
Very touching and moving story. Anand Bose from Kerala
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 😊
LikeLike
I agree with the human need to treat everyone as such, but also think one needs to practice a little ‘stranger danger,’ Stephen. 🙂 -especially if one is a woman.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is heartwarming that you take the time to converse with and get to know these people. You are an inspiration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mary. I’m not really though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it that you’ve actually connected with her! Many of us assume a sob backstory but are way too self absorbed to stop and listen to it. Thanks for showing humanity the kindness it deserves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. She’s a lovely girl. She deserves better.
LikeLike
You are a caring soul! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ruth 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It made me smile (albeit sadly) reading this. I often stop and talk to the same homeless people near me too. I wish I could do more than give them something to eat, it’s such a shame
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you. Thank you 😊
LikeLike
I am so happy you reached out to her. Sad there is so many in need of this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very sad. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is…
LikeLike
I love your heart for all people. I love too, that you were able to identify your stereotypes of people groups and actively work to overcome those by pushing past them—cautiously. I love that you first see the good in people and root for them by not being presumptuous or forcing what we deem as “health” on them. Loving people where they are and as they are—what a gift you bring to the world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try my best but it feels very inadequate at times. Thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person