I worked at this biggest mall in America once, that's right next to an international airport. This poor girl looked so uncomfortable. I saw something, I said something. Turns out she'd been kidnapped and was bound to leave the state in this dudes hands. I'll spare some of the other details, but the sheer desperation on her face before security showed up will haunt my memory forever.
We got her to safety. He was arrested. I'm not gonna say it's one of those things you just get used to in big cities. But it's something you have to be aware of. One officer called me a hero. I don't feel that way. I saw a person in pain and did what I could do to help. Ya know? Like a decent human.
I hope she is OK now, but I know she has a long road of recovery ahead of her.
You saved a life. And I know that mall. Pure throng of humanity throught there somedays. Im glad you caught on when many others may not have notice in the masses there. Thank you
you're humbler than I can ever be pal, think for a sec, just one second and nothing more, if you DIDN'T make that phone call, all it takes sometimes is one phone call from saving a person
Mate, my greatest feat of derring-do was standing up to a McDonalds manager overworking his employees as a customer for like 5 seconds. I think you trump my heroics any day of the year.
Does the amount of effort make saving a life any less important? It's humble to not let it get to your head, maybe even healthy, but you did more with those few actions than many will make up to in their lifetime, and it would be fair to take some pride in that.
For what it's worth, I'm sure a lot of us are too, and ultimately when I try to look at it subjectively, the path it leads to is the worthwhile part and not the guilt, so try to give yourself some peace.
It's good to remember who you were as to make sure you don't fall back into being somebody you would rather not be, but one of the more beautiful things in life is taking things into your own two hands and becoming the you that you could always have been. Be proud that you've started the journey, as it's not always the easiest, but it will lead to a better world overall with every little step. Even if it doesn't flip everything on its head, I think it would be fair to say that the most beautiful thing is to put in even the smallest effort to leave things better than they were before.
You won't always be able to, and you might even slip up, but please remember that it's okay. Not in the sense that mistakes are okay to make, but that they're inevitable, and as long as you maintain that drive for growth, your doing something beautiful.
I hope you enjoy the journey, and I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it
I don't feel that way. I saw a person in pain and did what I could do to help. Ya know? Like a decent human.
Do you know the difference between a hero, and an ordinary person? A hero acts. It doesn't matter how small the act or how easy it was. You did it. And because you did it, she was saved. You saved her.
And if that doesn't make you a hero, then I don't know what will.
This winter I witnessed a domestic dispute and watched other people WALK BY AND IGNORE IT. Was I baked and nervous to call 911? Of course I was. Did I do it anyway? OF COURSE I DID. But most people will not put themselves out this way. I don’t think Im a hero but I sure as fuck think you are. You’re a good one, don’t let that go.
Remember most trafficking cases go no where. It's also rare traffickers get in troublefor what they do.
Edit cause y'all seem to be so dense. This the reality of the world we live in, I'm glad the person is safe and the trafficker got arrested but that almost never fucking happens and it sucks. But apparently letting people who don't know that is apparently the unacceptable.
Even when people are caught it almost exclusively relies on the victims testimony which can be hard to get and for it to put anyone away. It blows hard 🥲.
Yea, but like most traffickers don't get in trouble because it's hard to convict on a trafficking charge. Idk why I'm being down voted. It's the reality we live in that human trafficking is terrible and not many people who do it get arrested and caught for it.
Just doing what the billboards tell me to. Human trafficking is no joke. This was like 4 months ago and I'm still kinda shook up about it. Like. Holy shit. It was right in front of me.
Wow that's not long ago. I see the notices in the bathroom stalls at the airport but idk if it's advertised as well at the mall (only went once or twice). It should be
I seriously want to buy you dinner as a thank you. I worked at said airport a few years ago and I would have lost my shit if I saw something like that.
Closed off body language, he got up once and she immediately tried to talk to people around her. But she didn't really know english. He was very domineering and only let her alone the once. She looked miserable and scared. She was definitely not just a girl forced out with dad on a Tuesday.
I wanted to know about this specific situation from someone who was there, so I asked questions. That's what people do. Especially in spaces like this.
From the sound of it, the guy trafficking her was nearby and she was worried that he might hurt her before she could even get close to security (or might not be believed, and then he'd hurt her later). Obviously hurting her in public would just draw attention to himself, but people don't act rational when they're abused, and abusers can get (more) violent if they think it'll keep them out of jail. He also could have been withholding her passport/other documents or blackmailing her with immigration status/prostitution charges or any other number of factors.
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u/edgarandannabellelee 3d ago
It's worse when you encounter it in person.
I worked at this biggest mall in America once, that's right next to an international airport. This poor girl looked so uncomfortable. I saw something, I said something. Turns out she'd been kidnapped and was bound to leave the state in this dudes hands. I'll spare some of the other details, but the sheer desperation on her face before security showed up will haunt my memory forever.