In the "Hood"

She woke up and squinted from the sunlight that pierced through the sheer curtain. She was still sore and her eyes were nearly crusted shut from the old tears and leftover make-up that had been applied the night before. She was reminded of the reality of her situation as the dream she had been in seemed to fade away in her memory like water descending down a partially clogged sink.

It had been one of those days. The challenges that faced her and the dreams she hoped for were one in the same. It felt like being in a marathon with a blindfold on her eyes. She didn't know where she was going and everyone kept running past her without a glance or a helping hand. She decided to give in to the city today.... she just wasn't strong enough to face it.... and besides, it was time for a good cry. She knew once she got it out, she would be okay.... she would be able to start the race again.

She took a nap to refresh herself. When she woke up, she got ready to meet her boyfriend. She knew that a night out would be good for her. As she got dressed and put on her makeup, she called her best friend. He was always able to make her laugh.... especially when she needed it! She kept him on the phone, even as she left the apartment, taking every precious minute of peak calling time to catch up with him. She laughed as she headed down the creaky stairwell and thought not to disturb her neighbors. She walked out the front door of the building and thought her hood was the perfect protector from the chill in the air. Ironically, it would be the very thing that would make her most vulnerable.

She ran into the deli below her house to grab a pack of gum.... Laughing at the familiar "isms" of her dearest friend, she headed on her usual route toward the subway. She couldn't wait to have her night out. The street was residential. It was poorly lit, but she had walked that way a thousand times. As she listened to him tell a story on her phone, a huge blow came to her back which thrust her towards a car parked on the street. Seconds seemed like an eternity.... she was confused, in pain, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw two hooded figures eerily beside her.... It became quite evident that she was being attacked...she imagined the worst. Would they stab her? Rape her? Kidnap her? All of the above? Was this it? One lunged for her purse and as she screamed for dear life, they ran away, with her belongings....and she ran screaming and crying.... toward someone or something that could possibly help her. All the while, her best friend listened to the entire exchange helplessly on the other end of her phone.... Not one soul came out of their house.... not one person on the street came to see if she was okay. She found a doughnut shop near the subway and ran inside an collapsed at an empty table. In complete hysterics, she tried to recount the attack to her friend who was still on the phone. A couple in the shop brought her a glass of water, and called the police.....

You never know when this could be you.... or at least, I never expected it would be me. But it was. I am lucky all they got was my purse... and they left me with a nasty bruise on my back.... It is a constant reminder of how lucky I truly am.... even in the worst of times. -M