Era 1

She is my banker. The Stagecoach Bank. We met a few months ago. Era helped me set up the ability to send money to friends overseas. During three brief visits at the bank she told me she was from the Philippines and met an older American man who brought her here 6 years ago. They married. She became a citizen. And she was happy. She still had family and friends in the Philippines.

Her new email asked if I was alright. And stated that she had not seen me in the bank for more than a month. I thought about it. I replied with an email, to her bank. If you have a private email, please send here.

The next day, I had two emails. One from Era from her bank email said she did not have a private email for bank customers. I replied to that email, “sorry, we will keep this professional.” I did not want her to get into trouble. The other email was from Era’s private email. I responded, saying I did not want to cause her trouble, “I hope this is OK”.

Immediately she sent back. “I am at work, on my phone, and on hangouts.” I added her, and we started chatting. I said please be careful, I didn’t want to cause trouble. She text back, “no worries, she would be careful, she was very happy to chat this way.” I told her I was online and ask how life was treating her. She said her husband health had gotten worst. She had to get some home healthcare for him. And that she was lonely. She said she would text more as she could. Era want to know if we could meet after she was off work. I said probably yes.

Another text later. “Mike I am off at 4, my address is . . . . I hope you can come over” At 3:45 I text her I would be there at 4:15. She responded, “you made my day!”

I knocked on the front door at 4:15. Era greeted me at the door invited me in and gave me a big hug.