Do you mean what you say on your badge

The time came for my shift to end as a nurse, it had been a particularly tough shift and my feet were sore. I had a day off the next day so decided to head for the supermarket to get a well deserved bottle of wine and a new book. I parked my car in the closest spot I could find nearest to the supermarket, I Grabbed a basket and headed inside. The smell of fresh flowers hit me "MMmmm" I breathed in the smell. I headed for the ready meal section. I began looking for something healthy but easy, after a 12 hour shift the last thing you want to do is cook. I selected a Thai curry, try something new I thought to myself. I wandered around and grabbed a few other items. As I was doing this I noticed a man, he was looking at me in a strange way and had seem him hovering behind me since I arrived, it was starting to freak me out. I headed for the book section, I began looking at books as I was doing this I noticed the same man standing at the top of the isle looking at me, he was shifting and trying to look busy but kept glancing at me. I was really starting to feel umcomfortable by this point but I kept calm and continued looking at the book. The man came forward and headed for the book section, I was aware he was approaching but remained looking at the book pretending I was reading, I could still see him in my peripheral vision. He got closer and said "Excuse me" I looked up his eyes were wide with fear. "Yes" I replied he answered "Do you mean what you say on your badge" at first I didn't know what he was talking about but then he pointed in the direction of my keys. On there is a small plastic card with a friendship quote but on the back there was a sticker. A few months previously I had attended suicide awareness training. As a nurse you come across a vast anount of people with a multitude of issues so we need to be updated on our training. At the end of this training we were all given a certificate of completion and 2 stickers saying "suicide awareness you can talk to me" I automatically took one of the stickers and put it on this small card as I carried my keys in my hands when out and people can see it. This man noticed this sticker and was trying to find the courage to approach me. "Oh this" I said as I pointed to the sticker. he replied "Yes" Do you mean it? I said "Yes, of course are you okay?" I could see by his body language he was not okay, he was hunched and his head was down. He looked like he hadn't slept or eaten in days. I could see a tear running down his cheek. He asked if he could buy me a cup of coffee, there was a 24 hour McDonalds franchise within the supermarket so I agreed. I placed my basket at the counter and asked the lady kindly if she would keep it for me and that I would be back in a short while. She agreed, "My name is Michelle by the way" "I am John". I picked a seat and John went and ordered coffee, as a nurse I assess all the time it is second nature. I studied John's body language as he waitied for the coffee, I knew he was troubled. He came back and sat down, as I stirred my sugar into my coffee John let out a huge sigh. I had picked a seat away from people as much as possible to give him privacy to talk. He looked up at me, "I don't know what to do" he said in a quiet withdrawn tone. "My wife has left me and my business is in a lot of debt" "I have lost everything even my kids" to help him cope he had started drinking, bills were rising and his wife hated that he was drinking. His wife had enough and asked for a divorce. They had been together for over 45 years, it was his first love. He was destroyed and admitted he had considered suicide, he said "I was on my way to a bridge" "I was gonna jump" "I came in here for a bottle of champagne" "You know, to celebrate my death" I looked him dead in the eye and put a concerned hand on his and I said "You don't need to die" "You just need to adapt your behaviour to what your wife wants and if you show her that effort then she will come back to you" he looked at me and said "I'm such a failure" I said "No" "Your getting stronger". I explained to him that I was a nurse and had a feeling that something was wrong with him from the moment I walked into the shop. We chatted for over 3 hours about life, his kids, his problems. I assessed people for a living and made care plans for thousands of patients, to me he was a patient. So I gave him my honest opinion about what I thought he should do to try and fix it, the main one being to give up alcohol and seek advice from Citzen's advice for the issues with the debt regarding his business. I told him there is always a solution for every problem we are faced with in life. We eventually got up and said our goodbyes, before he left he shook my hand and said "I can't promise I will never think of suicide again but you saved my life tonight and for that I thank you" "Your welcome" I asked if I could have his number just so I could check in on him now and again to make sure he was safe. He agreed. As a nurse we have a bad habit of taking things home with us, I have stayed awake all night if I know my patients are at end of life. I just wanted him to know he had someone there if needed, I mean if I could save him from suicide once I am sure I could again. I never did hear from him again, he did enter my mind now and again I hoped he was okay. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I loved being a nurse, we are trained in many things and it is our duty to help people in need inside and outside of work. John was also in the right place at the right time, he needed someone to listen and through 1 sticker with 1 clear message he was given that opportunity. My wine was put in the fridge for another night, I was exhausted but satisfied I was able to help someone in need, I fell asleep with a smile on my face that night.