Emily Perdue | contributing officer
A worried look
A hurried pace
Head on a swivel
An owl, hunted.
Glance down the alley
–Don’t look for too long–
Look in front, look behind
Stay alert or you’re next.
In one pocket, my phone
Ready to dial
The other, my knife
Clutching too tight.
It’s just three blocks, only three!
I’ll be fine, I reason
Slow steps from afar have my mind on edge
Larger steps, swivel-swivel-clutch.
“One bag or two?”
Think first, then decide
One bag, please
I need my hands free to fight.
Thump thump, thump thump
Can these strangers hear my heartbeat?
A broken street lamp
Walking in darkness.
I heard it happened down the street
I think it happened in the dark
I don’t actually know the details
I could be next.
Avoid eye contact
But still be aware
Be prepared, be prepared
Hurry up, don’t look back!
It often happens down the street
It often happens in the dark
Do the details even matter?
It could be happening right now.
Back in the light
Safe and sound, I’m alright
All this panic…
For a pack of toilet paper?