I lied to a homeless guy to get him off the train

Here's the story:<br><br>I was commuting home on the train from work one evening. I found a seat quickly and started playing some games on my phone. That's when I smelled him. It wasn't long before I saw him. A homeless man with a rucksack and cardboard signs walking around and stopping at different people. I can't remember exactly what it said, but I'm sure it was the usual "homeless, need money" kind of thing. <br><br>This guy stunk and it was making me sick. I considered getting up and moving, but my stop was only a few more stations away, I could tough it out. As I thought this, he stopped in front of me, holding out his cardboard sign.<br><br>"Hey, man. I'm homeless and I need some money to eat. Any help would be awesome."<br><br>I felt a pang of guilt. I've never been in this guy's shoes and I don't know how hard it is to be homeless. I also remember that I'm not in the best financial situation. I have enough to cover my expenses comfortably and I do put some aside for savings each month, but I'm also saving to move out. <br><br>So, my nonsense started here. I began to make stuff up to justify not giving this guy money. <br><br>"I'm sorry man, I don't have any cash on me. I wish I could, I really do. Unfortunately, I'm in a similar situation as you. I'm also homeless and on my last stop before I get to the place I'm gonna squat tonight. I'm sorry man, but I don't have any money to help you out with and I'm not gonna be home for a few hours and I need to eat too."<br><br>He apologised and moved on. I felt a little guilty, but also a bit better that the stench was moving away from me. Then, I started to feel a little bad. This guy is homeless. Even if he is begging for money to buy booze or cigarettes or something, he's still homeless and needs something. I should be more sympathetic. <br><br>The train pulls up to my stop and as I get up to leave, the guy approaches me again. <br><br>"Hey, man. Sorry to bother you. I'm gonna get off here too. You know anywhere around here where I can find something to eat? Maybe a shelter or something? I've been on this train for ages and I'm sick of it. I thought I'd just get off wherever and look around a bit."<br><br>I couldn't not know this. I live at this stop. I had to just make up something nonsense and hope he doesn't find out that I'm lying, or I needed to just tell him I was lying the first time. <br><br>So I lied more.<br><br>"Yea, dude. If you go that way" (pointing to the right) "There's a really good shelter just down the road. They'll feed you and let you stay the night. I went there a couple of times and the people running the place are really nice. Small shelter though, so I can't guarantee you'll get a bed tonight. But they'll definitely find you something to eat and somewhere to sleep. Just go on the corner up there, take your first right and just walk down the street. You'll see it on your right side. Can't miss it really."<br><br>He thanked me and we parted ways.<br><br>This is a true story that happened this year. Literally, this is a confession.<br><br>EDIT: Quick edit just to clear up some things that I see a lot in the comments. <br><br>1. This was in Australia. I'm aware this doesn't really change much, but for context. <br><br>2. I'm not saying all homeless people stink. I was trying to convey that this man stunk. Not all homeless people are dirty or smell bad. <br><br>3. I'm not saying all homeless people are bad. They're people and they can't be generalised into one category. There are good and there are bad, just like there is in every group of people.<br><br>4. I didn't kick him off the train. We were both getting off at the same station. He chose to get off with me because I told him there was a shelter near my stop. There really isn't. If I was on the train and knew his stop was a few stations after mine and his last chance for food/shelter, I wouldn't have told him to get off at mine.<br><br>Ok, so this has been blowing up pretty heavily. I just want to say two more things really quickly.<br><br>1. Thank you to all those who have commented on here and offered me advice on what to do if it happens again in the future. I will definitely take this on board and consider it next time. <br><br>2. To those who are saying that I'm a terrible person or I'm going to hell or anything like that, I just want to say that it's not like I chose to be born in a middle-class family and have the opportunities that I have. I didn't choose to not be homeless. It just is what it is. I also didn't choose for this guy to get on the train at the station I get on at and walk down the aisle that I'm in. I'm not defending myself here. I'm just saying that this situation couldn't be avoided. That's why I'm telling the story, to hear your judgement and hopefully use it as a lesson for the future.