All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing...

Edmund Burke said that.  Or something like that.  It's now thought to be a paraphrase of something he wrote.  Whatever.

I was thinking about that today...

Something was off.  Her "husband" called me to fill her prescription (controlled substance, pretty fun one).  I asked that she be available at pick up.  He questioned me but I stood firm.  I need to see the patient.  At the very least.  So when he came into the drive thru, she was sitting next to him.  He asked me about it again and I explained that it was to her benefit, extra security for her, since she didn't call in the refill.  She signed for it but she never said a word.  Not one word.

I felt....weird about it, but let it go until another pharmacist called me tonight to ask me about them.  What did I think?

I can't put my finger on it.  But I thought of another girl.  Who called me early in the morning and told me, in a whisper, that her boyfriend was making her fill her prescription and taking it from her.  She wanted me, no matter what he said, to not fill it.  I promised her I wouldn't.

Later, when she called, I was on speaker.  I demanded to be taken off speaker phone.  I told her I wouldn't fill it, per her request.  I asked if she was ok.  She said she was.

He threw the fit of all fits in my drivethru but I held firm and I would have called the cops if wouldn't have left.

I wonder what happened to her.  Was this her one cry for help?  Did she manage to get away from this asshole?  Did I miss an opportunity to help someone?  What would I have done with her if she would have told me she needed help?  Should I have pushed her, offered her a safe place?  Told her she would be ok if she just got away?

Yeah, I'm kind of regretful about that one.  Maybe I could have done more....maybe not, but maybe I could have.

I thought of her after that phone call from the other pharmacist.  What if this girl is in trouble and has no one in her corner?

I wish I was working days....I might be able to do a little more behind the scenes, check out the situation a bit better.  I don't know.  I'm sure I'll meet many more like her before I'm done.  Unfortunately.  Maybe I'll actually be able to help a few along the way.  God I hope so.