Attention.

I listened on the telephone to her horrific story of abuse from forty years ago.

I said sorry, and asked what we could do to help her healing.

‘Counselling,’ she said. ‘For me, my ex-husband, and my two adult children who have suffered because of my suffering.’

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Anything else?’

‘A hundred thousand dollars.’

I arranged for the counselling and regularly called to see how she was going.

I’m flying in to visit a friend,’ she said during one call. We agreed to meet for coffee for the first time in person.

We talked for an hour about the things people do over coffee.

She said the counselling had been wonderful for her and her family.

‘You also mentioned a hundred thousand dollars,’ I reminded her.

She smiled.

‘I didn’t want the money,’ she said. ‘I just wanted to get your attention.’