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About a week or so ago we noticed she had alcohol on her breath. She seemed a little inappropriate-flirting with the staff- when she'd always been professional before. We didn't think too much of it though-to each their own and no harm done.

Recently she visited the store, asked to use the bathroom. I let her in to have some privacy and when she came back out she had tears in her eyes and she was shaking.

She's a customer. I know her dog's name and what kind of food he likes. She's the kind of customer that comes in smiling and brings us treats because we give her dog treats. She's funny and kind and it saddens me to see she's clearly suffering.

I ask her if she needs a hug and she falls into me. She's shorter than me and gets on her tiptoes so she can lay her head on my shoulder and cry into my neck. She's shaking with sobs, saying she's sorry as she lets go of whatever is hurting her. I hold her, concerned. She's like a child.

When she steps back she wipes her eyes and tells me.

"Just before new year's I was leaving my apartment and there were some guys outside in the parking lot, hanging out. They came at me, punched me in the face and knocked me out. When I came to they were gone and I didn't know if they-if-"

She trails off, shaking her head and it's then I notice the bruises and small cuts on her forehead and nose.

"I went to Harborview and they did an exam. They told me it appeared unlikely but-I just-I didn't know-"

She dissolves into tears again and I pull her to me once more. I can feel her fear and it mingles with my own. The terror she must have felt. The not knowing. I stroke her hair, ask her if she has someone to stay with her. She assures me she does and then she tells me she just wants to go home and sleep.

After she left I stood there a moment, trying to absorb what she'd told me. I'm glad I was there for her.  I've never had someone hug me like that-when they so clearly needed to be held. It was powerful.

A few days ago I found out she checked herself back into rehab. She'd fallen a bit in the aftermath of her ordeal and was able to recognize she needed help to mend.

Her story haunts me for so many reasons but it's her strength that I think of when I think of her. She may have stumbled in her recovery but she picked herself back up and she will survive this.