“Something’s really wrong with table 23,” Saroya says.

“What’s the matter?” I ask.

“Go over there,” Saroya says grimly.

I hustle to the front of the restaurant and find a lone blonde woman sobbing into her martini.

I know who this lady is. She and her girlfriend were regular customers until they broke up a few months ago. I think the blonde’s drinking has something to do with it.

Taking a deep breath I remember this is what I get paid for.

“Are you alright Madam?” I ask.

“No!” the woman cries. Well, that’s obvious. Smooth move Waiter.

“Can I help you?”

“No!”

I look on helplessly. Luckily we have a light crowd at the Bistro tonight. The only other customers in range look on sympathetically.

The woman drains her martini. “Another,” she says angrily.

“No madam,” I say, “I think you’ve had enough.”

“GET ME ANOTHER DRINK!” she yells.

“That’s not going to help you.”

The woman waves me away. I back up and give her space. I can’t help her.

Blonde pulls out her cell phone and makes a call. The conversation’s rather piteous.

“I want you back,” Blonde cries into her phone. Hearing the reply she sobs like she’s going to fall apart.

I stand back and watch.

She talks with her ex for another minute. Suddenly, Blonde’s affect goes flat and she stops crying. In a low even voice she says, “I’m going to kill myself.”

Oh shit. I have a full blown psychiatric emergency on my hands.

Blonde snaps the phone shut.

I head over to the hostess stand to call the police. The phone rings before I can get there.

“I want a reservation for Saturday night,” a gruff male voice barks.

“Call back later,” I say, hanging up.

I look back over at Blonde. She’s got a determined look on her face. I think to myself, “Should I really be doing this? Is this really my business?”

I worked in mental health for years. Suicidal ideation is serious. Yeah, it is my business.

Before I can dial 911 the Bistro’s phone rings again. I answer. It’s Blonde’s ex.

“How is she?” the Ex asks.

“She’s in bad shape,” I say, “I was just about to call the cops.”

“I’ll be there in five minutes,” the Ex says hanging up.

Blonde asks me for the bill, her voice chillingly under control.

I take her credit card and head to the back. I have to stall for time. After a short pause I go back over to the table.

“I’m sorry madam,” I say. “The credit card machine’s slow today. It’ll be a couple of minutes.”

“Whatever,” Blonde says dismissively.

My ploy works. The Ex walks in the door. The crying starts all over again. They have a short conversation and not a good one.

Blonde gets up and storms out the door. The Ex looks at me helplessly.

“We need to call the cops now,” I say.

“I don’t think she’s really going to kill herself.”

“Either you call or I will,” I say.

The Ex calls the cops and gives them Blonde’s description and heading.

“The cops will be here soon,” Ex says.

I hand her Blonde’s credit card. “Can you give this back to her?”

“Yeah,” Ex says numbly. I bet she’s wondering how it came to this.

I walk outside the Bistro. Suicide Blonde staggers down the street, like a burning ship floundering upon a dark and angry sea. A siren wails in the distance.

Blonde leans against a Fed Ex Box to get her bearings. A police cruiser pulls up alongside her.

“I’d better go over there,” the Ex says.

“Good luck.” I reply softly.

After a few minutes it’s all over. An ambulance comes and takes Blonde away for a long rest. I head back inside.

As I start closing up I think about the tough times in my own life. I remember experiencing pain like Blonde’s feeling. It’s a pain we all encounter. It’s unavoidable.

At some point we’ve all been a ship afire.

I lock the doors and go home.