Rain on desert sand

For months, Aaron neglected people. Stressed out by exam pressure, first he lied to his parents. Then his girlfriend left him. Things went from bad to worse till Jack made contact and hope returned.

Aaron had always hidden his feelings but suddenly he wanted to lash out. When his girlfriend told him about her new partner, he started posting bitter thoughts on Instagram, hoping they would see. Then, clicking randomly on links on his phone, he got through to Jack.

Hi there, I’m Jack. I’m a social worker. Feel like a chat?

Aaron felt embarrassed and wary but Jack persisted in his light-hearted way. Affected by Jack’s friendly approach, Aaron gradually opened and told his sad story.

I’ve broken up with my girl, but I can’t forget her, she haunts me … I stalked her on Instagram… tried to get my own back … That new boyfriend she found. Why does she prefer him to me? She’s so stupid. It makes me burn up inside…

Hey hey, we all get like that sometimes. If she’s good enough she’ll be back …

You think so? I’d like to kill them both.

No way, you’ll find another way, you’ll work it out …

For the next few weeks, much to his surprise, Aaron often felt like a chat with Jack. Perhaps it was because he was a stranger. He didn’t have a real face, just emoticons. And he always answered, day or night, whenever Aaron wanted to to pour out all his bottled-up fury.

As he came to trust Jack, so Aaron’s anger evaporated. The violent language faded and Jack’s long, patient messages were a comfort. He had never guessed a social worker could be like this, able to chase the mad turmoil out of his mind, calming him and helping him understand.

For a while the chats stopped as Aaron regained some balance in his life. Then another calamity struck.

Aaron took a gap year to look after his seriously ill father. Till then, he’d never been close to anyone in his family. For a while, things looked up. They started hiking and really talking to each other for the first time. Then his dad took a turn for the worse. There was nothing anyone could do to help. He died and Aaron felt nothing but remorse.

He lost his appetite. The grief put him constantly on edge, always expecting to take the blame, ever on the verge of losing his temper. It got worse every time his mother tried to make him eat. Then out of the blue, Jack got in touch.

Jack’s advice worked. Gradually, Aaron got better and learned how to show his mum he cared. They even discovered something else they shared: cooking together.

Much later, Aaron said Jack had been like rain on desert sand. He gave him help just in time and made it possible for him to grow again. Aaron found hope through Jack. They never met in person but they became firm friends.

Aaron learned wisdom and self-knowledge: a lesson in hope and healing that he will never forget and that he can now pass on to others.

How’s life, Aaron? Long time no see

Jack , my dad died. It’s all my fault. I was supposed to be his carer. I was useless.

Oh no, tell me…

He’d been getting better but now he’s gone… nothing I did made any difference …

Come on, it’s not your fault. Could happen to anyone. Don’t take it to heart. Things will get better.

I’d just started getting to know him a bit, on those hikes, those days just him and me …

One day you’ll treasure those memories, the good times you had… and I bet your mum will understand what you’re going through.

She just tries to make me eat when I’m not hungry. I feel like throwing up her food.

Hey, hold on. Now and then, take a look at her. Maybe when she’s busy. Put yourself in her shoes. She’ll be sad too. It’s human. It’s something you can share because you both care …

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