The Last

I woke up to the aroma of pancakes and coffee. Mark was in the kitchen making breakfast. I was snuggled in all my big fluffy blankets, they were like giant clouds. It was so nice seeing the rays of light coming through my bedroom window. I was so comfortable.

"Come on, wake up babe."

"I'm up, I'm up." Even though I really wasn't because I remained in the same position with my eyes closed.

He came into the room and jumped on the bed. "It's going to be a beautiful day, so we've got to take advantage of our time together and enjoy it while the gorgeous weather lasts."

It wasn't long till I gave up on my attempt to sleep in. It was Saturday morning. The day when Mark and I got to relax and spend the whole day together. I got up and walked to the kitchen table, grabbed my cup of coffee, and started reading the paper. I turned to the obituary section, where I saw a tiny caption and layout of Fil. I read, "Our beloved Fil died in a fatal tree accident. He will never be forgotten." I read on and discovered the poor guy died from a tree fall. Apparently he was sleeping in his make-shift tree house trying to hide from that treacherous thunderstorm, when lighting and wind took down his home.
He lived on his own for a while in that tree. Even though he was homeless, he was fine living there. His crushed body was discovered by grandma Pearl early in the morning.

"Wow I never thought such a kind young man would lose his life so suddenly." I frowned.

"I guess it was just his time. Everything happens for a reason, and besides he's in a much better place." he said with sympathy.

His words were appeasing, and I told Mark that I would like to pay my respects at the funeral later today. He just nodded and said "I would be happy to come along."

The two of us left for our morning run. For the first time ever, Washington Heights actually looked pretty. Despite the trash on the street and the sight of a number of overtly struggling businesses, the city looked beautiful. I never noticed how much beautifully colored trees lined the streets. Washington Heights didn't look as much like the ghetto, but more just like a highly populated urbanized area. I was really enjoying it and so was Mark.

We ate lunch and this time walked back home. It was three o'clock and we had to be ready to go to Fil's funeral by five. The funeral was nice, and everyone got the chance to say their goodbyes.

"It's so terrible how Fil died." Mark said to Mr. Dupont.

"I know, it's just not right." He replied.

In an attempt to bring Mark and Henry out of their sadness I said, "I think heaven above is taking good care of him. Just look at how gorgeous this day is. It's trullly a divine gift."

The sunny weather was nice. It made Washington Heights a place where more smiles and laughter exists. The city was actually normal for a short time, that is until the clouds began to come in. That's when the familiar feeling of depression came in. I absolutely hated bad weather, and I had had enough. Mark and I decided to get the apartment in another city. We began packing up our clothes, dishes, furniture,and everything else we wanted to take with us. The next morning was moving day and I couldn't wait.

Before Mark and I went to bed I said, "Finally the day we've been waiting for is tomorrow. We've prepared and now we are ready to make our dreams of living in a normal place a reality."

Mark looked into my eyes and stared at me with a serious face. We both understood how not only moving would take us out of this hell we call home, but it would also be us taking the next step into our relationship...

A couple seconds went by, and we just began to smile at each other. "I can't believe this will be our LAST night sleeping in this god foresaken place." I leaned over to turn off the light, then I snuggled closer to him and kissed him goodnight.

"I love you Lucy."

"I love you too."

Take the Good with the Bad

Patients keep their stays in the clinic as short as possible. The people of Washington Heights have many secrets. They don't like all of the questions the medical staff asks. It's a shame that they think that even us could be out to harm them. Many just don't understand that those specific questions are necessary for thorough diagnosis and understanding of why he or she ended up at the clinic. Those prying questions are important, because we treat the physical injuries as well as the mental.

Unfortunately early this morning one of my patients, Mr. Jefferson, came by for treatment for some major bruises and cuts that needed stitches. I asked him a few questions such as if he had a home, any insurance, and a way to contact him. He answered those questions without difficulty, but when I asked him how he got them he didn't answer. I tried explaining to him how important that information was. I left the room to give him his space, but when I returned to clean and stitch up his cuts Mr. Jefferson was nowhere to be found. "Hmmmm...what a shame. Another one gone."

People in this town have to deal with so much. They have to be cautious about their every move, whether it's what route to take to get home safely or even what clothes to wear to avoid getting shot or robbed. In Washington Heights too much crime happens and too little is done about it. The people have no other choice but to look out for themselves, nobody else will.

My own personal experience in Washington Heights has definitely helped me in more ways than one, but even though I'm a beneficiary of it, I still cannot and will not stay much longer. Mark and I have really done some thinking about where we want to be in the future, and we concluded that staying in this dump will not help us get there. We're moving away to the same town, maybe even living together, so we can get on the right track.

RING!!... RING!! The phone on my desk echoed throughout my office.
I answered, "Hello?"

"Dr. Evans?"

"This is she. How can I help you?"

" Hi, this is your real estate agent, Mrs. Johnston. I wanted to call you to
notify you and Mark that I have found two affordable apartments that match your
descriptions."

"Well this is wonderful news." I tried to hide my excitment. I almost
screamed. "Thankyou so very much Mrs. Johnston, Mark and I will look into it."

"Thankyou, Ms. Evans I'll email the pics to you tonight"

"That would be great, I'll talk to you later."

I hung up the phone probably with the biggest smile on my face. I called Mark and let him know the news. He was more animated than me if you can believe it. It was six o'clock. Almost time for me to go home. I reviewed all my paper work and checked up on every patient before I prepared to pack up and go. Today was a quieter day than usual and it was nice being able to get out on time for the first time in a while. I couldn't get my the news Mrs. Johnston divulged to me off my mind...Well that and of course Mark himself. He makes me so happy just thinking about him. He's my angel, the answer to my prayers.

"Well, I'm about to leave now. Is there anything else anybody needs before I do
so?"

The only response I recieved was a shaking of heads. I smiled, grabbed my breifcase, put on my goat, and started my journey out the door and made my way down the streets of the town. As I was on my trek home, Mark called...

"Hey sweetie, what's up?" He said.

"Oh nothing much besides the news I told you earlier. I'm just walking home at
the moment. I'm going down Baker Street, did you know that Washington Heights
has an ice cream truck now?"

Of course he was aware of that fact. He's always aware of changes and figuring stuff out, Mark is the guy to go to if anyone wants to know anything. Me and him talked about what a nice addition to the town it would be if it wasn't for drug deals. Haha! Why is it that evil takes every opportunity to tarnish this place? The possible good is supposed to prevail over the bad! We continued our conversation as I walked up the stairs. I noticed the heavy steel door of the second floor open then shut. A young guy still in his teens stumbled down the stairs. I stopped and waited for him to pass me. We made eye contact. He had red glossy eyes. His hair was everywhere. As I stood on the side, I could see that he carried a glass that appeared to contain orange juice. The odor from the cup and his breath reeked of alcohol. I would have done something for Barnheart, but from past experience, my interferrance doesn't do any good. The only thing left to do is let him be. Allow him to do what he wants. Brone is a kind, funny guy. He keeps his wits about him even while intoxicated. "I JUST WISH HE KNEW HOW MUCH POTENTIAL HE HAS."

I made it to the rickety apartment I call home, put my keys in the bowl sitting on my coffee table, and went straight to my computer. I accessed my email and quickly searched for the message from the real estated agent. I looked at them and smiled.

Her Lesson Pays Off!

I was back at the clinic. I was back in the swing of things and back to myself again;however, happier than ever. Spending the night with Mark was great and it gave me a whole other attitude about things. Just knowing there was a guy out there who likes me was wonderful, and knowing that he likes me for who I am was invigorating.

As I sat in my office I glanced at the plain clock on the wall. It was six o'clock and the sun had just started to set. I could hear the sleet smacking on my window. It was coming down hard.

"Ugh" I sighed in relief. It wasn't much longer till I got to go to home sweet home.

The weather made everything outside look so disgusting. Mud was splattering everywhere, and the wind blew whatever remaining leaves off the plants. The environment couldn't even help to resemble the town's bare ugliness. It didn't take long till I heard the sirens from the neighboring police department go off. That occurred at least six times during my shift each day. Violence and crime was always happening, exhausting the public service workers. Some people have been loyal to Washington Heights for twenty some odd years and little old me was struggling serving the community for only two. It was an undeniable fact that the town was taking it's toll on me. None of the doctors in the town got paid well enough to face the problems they are dealt with every single day.

"Perhaps one day I will be able to leave this hell hole and move to a nice city with blooming flowers and live in a nice suburban home...maybe even have a kid or two." I stared at my computer just imagining it.

In the midst of my day dreaming, "Dr. Evans, calling Dr. Evans. You're needed in the front lobby. Dr. Evans please report to the front lobby."

I immediately got up and made my way down the hallway towards the front lobby anticipating to discover another innocent victim of violence. I came prepared with everything I needed...

...As I walked I could hear giggling and noticed a nurse trying to hide her smile and excitement facing the opposite direction.

"This is odd. I wonder what's going on?" I said quietly as I turned the last corner.

Suddenly I spot Mark all dressed up in a suit and tie, but also holding a bouquet of red roses. All the women nurses thought he was so cute and sweet. They looked at me with the largest smiles I had seen ever since they got their raises. They were happy for me.

"I came to pick you up and I was hoping that you would let me take you out for a nice dinner?" He said.

I smiled and looked him in the eyes, "Wow you surprised me!" I hugged him tightly and gently kissed him (that was our first kiss).

"It's just about that time that I get off anyways." I said. I was really tired, but I could suck it up. I was determined to have another splendid time with my guy. "I don't see the harm in us having a good time." I said.

"Phew! Good! I was terrified that you would tell me no." Then we both laughed. I quietly directed him to follow me to my office so I could go pack up to leave, and as I left I could see all the faces just filled with joy. They were happy I finally had a guy. Ha! Ha!

Mark and I walked out of the clinic and were headed towards the car. I passed a man, Ryan I think was his name. "Peculiar guy." Anyways, he said good evening to us and we wished him a good evening as well. Anyways, me and Mark got in the car and left for our night out.

By the time I was done getting dressed it was almost eleven o'clock. We searched for any nice restaurants but couldn't even manage to find one. Not even one! So we had to succumb to the inevitable. We decided to eat our dinner at the local twenty-four hour diner. The food was good, and everything was nice. We shared good conversation and told each other some of the funniest things that ever happened to us. The only alarming thing that happened was our waitress. She was young and very nice, but for some reason she had a bruise on her face and more all over her arms. I felt like it was my responsibility to talk to her, but I was afraid I'd make her uncomfortable, so I left my business card with a message on the back of it saying...

"I'm pretty sure I know what you're going through. I've seen it all over at the clinic. I've seen people come out of the situation you're in all the time, and I wanted to let you know that you can too. Come and visit me at the address provided. We can help. You don't have to accept this."

Mark said I did the right thing, but not to be surprised if she didn't contact her or get any help. I just shrugged, and told him that at least I tried. I gave her the tools to get started and now it's up to her to act on it.

A Lesson Learned

In places such as Washington Heights, people have problems with drugs, violence and many other things. Their circumstances can sometimes be so terrible that they can be influenced to make bad decisions resulting with them in jail, homeless, or even dead. In this place there are people who are comfortable with settling for less, there are some who have hope and try to escape by doing better for themselves, and then there are those who have already made it to success however the city's shadow catches up with them and shatters their lives. The question is "Where does Lucy Evan's life fit?"

"I am so done with this sh@*!"

I woke up from a dream on my couch. I never moved from where I cried and fell asleep from my exhaustion from last night's terrible event. My dream was about me changing from a perfectionist girl who never did much of anything when it came to enjoying life's thrills, to a more mature woman who does whatever the hell she feels like when she feels like. I woke up feeling empowered, free, and liberated! I liked that feeling.

"From here on I'm going to enjoy what life has given me. I'm going to live everyday like it was my last."

The mugging experience showed me how easy it was for life to be taken. I was dissatisfied with how I lived so conservatively, like I was afraid or something. Even though I was a victim, my perseverance has made me stronger. I will forever stand tall. That night I suffered from terror, but that morning I was no longer afraid.

I got on the phone with another doctor telling him I needed him to come in for me because I had to take a break from everything that happened. "Thank you very much and I appreciate your understanding." I'm determined to make my future better than my past. I got dressed, and left...Where? I don't know.

It was a rainy and windy outside of course. Washington Heights never gets any nice weather, but it didn't matter. I walked down a couple blocks to the bar. I saw Dominic outside the door smoking a cigarette.

"Could I get one?" I asked.

"Sure, but I've never seen you smoke before."

"Yeah I know, I'm changing things up from now on."

We finished our smokes, then I walked inside the bar. I looked around and found the bar. I drank till I couldn't feel my stress. I wasn't drunk, but I was "happy"...alright I'll be honest, I was DRUNK off my ass. Either way I was having a good time. It was a nice feeling not having to be under so much pressure. I was finally able to relax.
Then I met a guy that only ever existed in my dreams. He was tall, dark and handsome. It was like heaven when I looked into his eyes. It was like the whole bar didn't exist anymore, time stood still, and every noise was silent it was just me and him... "BLLUUUGH"
I felt so sick suddenly, I drank too much alcohol and that cigarette from earlier didn't do my stomach any good either.

"O my god! You don't look so hot" He said

"Thanx, I don't feel so hot either...too much drinking for me tonight." I said frowning.

I was so messed up I couldn't see straight, or walk straight at that. I told him I was going home, but he told me I shouldn't go alone. I attempted to walk out the door, but he stopped me. I told him I'd be fine, but he wasn't convinced.

"Here, lemme take you home...please?"

I could see that he wasn't going to take no for an answer,"Okay okay you can take me home."

As he drove his car towards the Washington Heights building, I saw a girl looking in the window at the flower shop. (I wonder what in the world that skinner girl wanted to do with flowers at this time of night.) Instead of taking the stairs, he had me go up to the sixth floor in the elevator. We made it the door of my apartment, but by the time we walked in everything just went black...

The guy's name was Mark, and for some reason he cared about me. He wasn't like the "other" guys. I could tell just by looking at him. I was really drowsy and I woke up in the comforts of my soft bed. Mark was leaning over me and talking to me quietly saying,

"You're going to be okay, I would never let anything happen to someone like you. Thank you for letting me get you home safe".

I smiled barely able to open my eyes, and whispered, "No thank you".

He proceeded to walk out my room heading for the door. I thought to myself how sweet he was to me, then I realized that very sweetness was about to leave, and there was a possibility that I may never see him again!

"Wait!" I said as loud as I could. "Don't leave now, it's almost four o'clock in the morning. Will you stay here and keep me company?"

"Well I don't know.."

"...but I want you to"

We locked eyes for a second till he said he would. He pulled up a chair near me and sat there till I fell asleep. That was the first time in a long time that I've gone to sleep to content and happy.

Fight or Flight?

It was late and my shift was finally over. I walked outside and discovered it was RAINING.
"Oh my goodness, I can't believe this" I sighed. I hated the idea that I had no choice but to walk home in it, these are the times I wish I had a car. "Why does god forsake me?"
I started the trek home. There was something different about tonight, besides the rain, everything was a lot quieter than usual, and there was a lot less activity as well. (At least it seemed that way to me.) Despite the creepy vibes, I continued to walk down Butcher street. As I was walking I noticed the trash molded into the cracks and conformed to rocks on the street as the rain pounded against it on the ground. The trash didn't blow around on the ground the way it usually did. By that time I was nearly a block away from the Washington Heights Apartments, I was drenched. I wasn't worried that the disgusting rain water had saturated through my coat and clothes to the point where I could feel the water on my skin, I was concerned about how eerie the night was.
I thought I heard another pair of feet walking behind me, so I turned around to check. I was so afraid to find out becuase I didn't know how I would react. I thought to myself, "Who would I know outside at this hour and on a night like this?" In the distance, I could hear the quick paced steps coming towards my direction. As I walked faster, I slowly turned just my head to try to sneek a peak. There was a big tall figure wearing a full length black raincoat. When he reached in his pocket and pulled out a gun I realized that I couldn't run from this guy anymore. HE WAS ABOUT TO KILL ME!!!
I stopped running and immediately took of my bag off my shoulders and trew it toward him. I was terrified so my aim was off, and it passed him. As I said, "I don't have much, please just take it leave me!", I noticed he turned around around to go get the bag. He wasn't aware of me so I looked for the direction of my apartment building and immediately took off. I sprinted faster than I think I ever have my whole life. Washington Heights was just down the street. I looked behind me and he was still gathering the items that were scattered on the sidewalk. I was getting away! I survived!
I snuck into the side door of the building and ran down the hall of the first floor. I could still see the guy out on the sidewalk. My loud steps and heavy breathing must have disturbed the tenant in room apartment 116. I continued to peer out the window with amazment. I was stunned that I had been a victim of a crime I always thought would never happen to me. This guy, Alan was the name he told me, asked me what was going on. I pointed towards the window speechless. I couldn't find the words to tell him. I guess the look of terror that was on my face and the sight of the man out on the sidewalk going through a woman's purse was a good enough explaination. He shook his head and went back inside his room. I walked towards the stairwell towards my apartment. After walking up all six flights of stairs I walked down the hall towards my door with my arms crossed tight around me. I was so afraid and ready to just let go. I opened my door and locked all four locks and just fell in my bed and cried myself to sleep.







(YOU GET MUGGED)

Taste of Peace

It was a early frigid morning in Baltimore, but despite the weather and my location I was in a good mood. I had my coffee in one hand and my blueberry muffin in the other.
Shop owners were already out beginning their day of business, and even the new guy Leroy Pickler was out and about. I walked to work every morning and home every night. In this town nothing’s ever too far a walk. I was walking past the Smarta station when…

“Good morning Ms. Evans, how are ya ?” an officer yelled from across the street.

“Mornin, Officer Seebach!” I replied.

The police department and the clinic work almost side by side, the station was just right next door. Just about every victim of violence comes to the clinic for help. Every time a victim comes in, I call Officer Seebach so he can make the report.

Officer Seebach walked into the precinct and I went into the clinic. It was amazing how the clinic was so peaceful every morning considering what all goes on everyday. Not only do the less fortunate people come in to get tested and treated for disease, but the homeless come in as well… And believe me, poor and homeless entails just about everybody here! As I sat at my desk thinking about all the things I had scheduled today, I took bites of my muffin and sipped my coffee. . .Ah perfect

Essence of Evans

I woke up to the sound of that same old intercom, "Dr. Evans, please report to the main floor, Dr. Lucy Evans, please report." I left my desk that was covered with papers on generic drugs, and articles about a new drug resistant bacteria. I must have pulled another "all-nighter", I thought to myself. I walked down the long white hallway leading to the Free Clinic's lobby, the "main floor" is what we all called it. The lobby was our own make-shift Emergency Room.
We were almost always busy with someone injured or sick. We had no choice, the city hospital would many times ignore people's calls from just about everyone in the Washington Heights district. Not too many people here can afford health insurance, so the free clinic is almost always the next best alternative.
As I was walking I could see in the short distance a man on the floor all bloodied and beaten. "Who did this to you?" I asked.


The man mustered up what strength he had left and replied, "I was at the bar minding my own business , talking with some people, when this drunk guy came from behind me and hit me in the back of my head."



Violence isn't uncommon in the district, helping the poor guys like hem was a typical day. We did what we could to take care of the wound and the pain, then it was all up to the police to make a report....



"Maybe this time they'll catch someone" one of the nurses scoffed.



"I sure hope so. I'm tired of these random acts of violence."