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."