Ed

There's this really nice couple. Both regular customers at the store. Most of the time this man and his wife come in to buy bread; always the same order. They place it in advance on Friday so they can pick it up on Saturday. Then pay straight away so they don't have to wait in line. His name is Ed and he is always happy and making jokes, I can't remember the name of his wife but she is a really really nice lady. I remember his name because I had to write it down so many times and whenever she placed the order she always put it in his name instead of her own.

Anyway... I was having my lunch some day and the door was ajar so I could have a peek every now and then to see if my colleague needed help. I was feeling sad because my father was very ill and dying of cancer. Work would be distraction most of the time. So while I was sitting there quietly on my own thinking about my father's condition and having my lunch, someone knocked on the door at some point.

It was Ed, he apologised for disturbing me and asked me if he could come in for a second. I told him it was no problem at all. Then he took my hands in his and said: "All I wanted to say is, that I know what you are going through. I lost my father when I was younger. I can't take the pain away for you but I wanted to tell you this to give you a bit of support..." I thought that was such a sweet gesture, so rare these days and therefore something I will never forget.

Today Carla asked me if I heard the news. She said Ed is no longer here, he past away a few weeks ago because he had a heart attack. It was really a shock to me to hear this. Such a nice man and such a nice woman. Although I don't know anything about them, I feel a bit sad and shocked. I will always remember his kind words when he came in that day to comfort me, that memory will linger on in my mind...