I had a highly distressing experience at the mall yesterday when my sister, while walking, suddenly became very unwell. She could barely see, couldn’t walk, and urgently needed something sugary and salty to stabilize her. I rushed to a nearby candy store for candy, but she also needed water, and none of the vending machines were working. She still couldn’t function properly and needed something salty to prevent her condition from worsening.

Calling 911 in this situation would have taken far too long, so the quickest option was to get something for her myself.

I spotted a Starbucks and ran there, desperate for anything that could help. The line was huge, so I went straight to the counter where orders are picked up and explained the situation to the employees, saying, “My sister is about to faint. She’s lying down and cannot walk. Please, can I have ANYTHING for her to eat? I will pay or come back to pay later. I just need something right now.” I repeated this multiple times, clearly explaining the urgency of the situation.

Their response was appalling. They looked at me confused and said, “Sorry, we would have to ring you up at the register.” I pleaded again, saying, “I will absolutely pay. Just please give me something—anything.” They ignored the urgency of the situation.

With no help from Starbucks, I ran to the food court, trying to find something salty. Employees at other places either weren’t there, were slow, or told me I needed to wait in line. Finally, I found Dairy Queen, where there was no line. The employees were quick, understood the situation, and rang me up immediately in seconds.

What if she had gone into shock? The lack of empathy from some of these businesses is alarming. Emergencies can happen to anyone, and in such moments, basic compassion and flexibility are critical. If someone’s health is in danger, a store’s policy shouldn’t come before helping someone in need. I’m deeply disappointed and hope businesses here, especially Starbucks, reevaluate their policies and train their staff to respond with kindness and urgency during emergencies.