Summer Of Sixty Nine

Chapter 3. Run

Chapter 3. Run

The rest of the night goes on and it's painfully slow. At about 11:30 o'clock I finally get tired and go looking for Marsha. Maybe she can point me in the right direction if there is anywhere to stay for the time being.

I am wandering around the dimly lit bar, getting shoved around. Since I am smaller most people don't even see me. I finally make it to a small round table and take a big step onto it. I get above the crowd and try to find Marsha. Nothing. I don't see her curly brown hair with flowers. Maybe she is in the bathroom. I slowly get off the shaky, small table and make my way to the bathroom.

More pushing and shoving was interrupted by a person abruptly grabbing my wrist firmly. I whip my head around to see the woman with brown curly hair and flowers in it. It was Marsha. Before I could stop and think I wrapped my arms around her slim frame. She didn't hesitate to hug back. As soon as I realize what I'm doing I immediately pull back. "I- I'm sorry," I say flustered. I just want to go to bed. "You're okay baby. I do have someone I want you to meet." She says with comfort in her voice. "This is Sylvia Revira, she is one of my best friends ." I look over to see a woman maybe a little bit older than me, with blue eyeshadow, and brown curly hair, longer than Marsha's though. "I'm Danny, nice to meet you." I stuck out my hand but this time I wasn't greeted with a handshake. Sylvia pulled me into a hug instead. I was perplexed. Her hug felt like the softest place ever. Like in her arms, I would never be hurt.

She breaks the hug and says, "Nice to meet you too." She smiles warmly at me. I don't hesitate to smile back. "Okay, are we ready to go?" Marsha asks with a laid-back tone. "Yeah, we should head out before anything happens again like last night," Slyvia responds quickly. But I was left in a state of confusion. Go, Go where? I don't have anywhere to go. Also what happened last night?

I guess I zoned out for too long before my trance was abruptly broken by Marsha. "Are you okay young one?" I nodded a bit. "You sure baby?" Sylvia spoke with concern in her voice. "Yeah, I-I'm good. Just thinking about stuff." I looked at both of them and the confusion on both of their faces was clear. "What kind of stuff?" I know Marsha was trying to be helpful when asking this question but in that instant, everything hit me at once. "If you really want to know, fine! I have nowhere to go! I got kicked out for being gay, and now I'm homeless! I was supposed to go to NYU in the fall and now everything is ruined" I didn't mean to get mad but it all just came out at once. I also probably just ruined the only relationship I had, so... yay me. I just exploded stupidly like a little kid. The only thing I could think to do is run. Run from everything. Run from all the hurt and pain. Just run.

Before I knew it I was sprinting out of the bar door into the dark but bright city night. I could hear my name being yelled, and for me to come back but I couldn't do it. My legs just wouldn't stop. So once again I was alone, with nowhere to go and nothing to my name. I stupidly left all of my stuff at the bar. So this time I was really at ground zero.

As I kept running the yelling barely faded. Were they still running after me? Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe I was still thinking that they were yelling "Danny come back." I couldn't slow down and look. Not now. I need to be okay and I know deep down that with the amazing people that I met this evening I will be. But I just am not in the right headspace right now. I just want to escape.

Running is all I have ever known. Even though I had two parents and a financially stable home that always didn't mean any good. My parents were always at a constant war with one another and eventually me. I danced, sang, and ran all over manhattan. Uptown, Midtown, Downtown, you name it I have been there. I just needed to be out of the house, I can't stand violence. The booming voices and the throwing of things will forever haunt me.

My legs start to hurt a lot. More than they ever have before. They shake with every stride and step I take. The pounding of my feet onto the ground became all I could focus on, and before I knew it my legs gave out making my entire body go straight into the cold concrete ground. My arms hit the pavement first saving my face but making me wince in pain. That is going to leave a bruise. I look down at my knees, both of which have scratched open from the force I had hit the ground. My arms reflected my legs with almost identical cuts.

I move myself to the curb slowly, trying not to irritate any of the now-forming bruises. What do I do now? I have no food, no money, nowhere to sleep, and almost no dignity left. I'm not very religious but I just need someone to hear my prayer. I gently close my eyes and interlock both of my hands with one another. "God, oh God, please. I-I know that I am a sin but please, please I need help. I need to live. Just please send me a sign, something please." I am crying at this point. I don't know how to go on anymore. I open my eyes and finish the prayer. "In the name of the father, son, holy spirit, amen."

With the prayer sent, I am immediately given a response. The voices of my name being called grew louder again. There is no way they are looking for me, no way. I am just some kid they just met and picked up off the street. Why would they come and look for me? I got mad at them for nothing. What was I worth to them? I look around and sure enough, there are two tall women sprinting as fast as they can in heels toward me. This was going to be a long night.

The women get closer and closer to me as I keep looking down the street. I just sit there looking stupid. I can't run anymore. My legs won't run, I just can't. By the time I muster up all the energy to get off the ground, four lanky arms are engulfing my body. The women hold my slim body like they are hanging on for dear life. That's when I began to sob. I sobbed as hard as I could into the crook of Marsha's neck while Sylvia was rubbing circles in my back. Even though I just met them, it feels like I have known them forever. These amazing people were my new purpose in life. They were the reason to keep going. "We are your family now. We may be just some drag queens but we are the nicest they come." I giggle at Marsha's joke. "I love you guys." I meant it from the bottom of my heart. "Let's go home," Sylvia says while she unwraps her arms around my body. Home is a word I like to hear.

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