On The Block // Jamie

01

I walked down the road towards the pharmacy, it was pretty late but Abuela needed her meds. I swiped round the corner and walked into the brightly- lit shop.

"Ms Williams," The pharmacist, Otis, said, noticing me as the bell tinkled, "Your in luck, we're just about to close," He said. Otis was pretty old, he was white, balding and had a thin beard.

"Hey, Otis, sorry about this," I apologised, coming up to the counter with my hands in my pockets, "Don't mean to extend your shift,"

"Oh, no, not to worry, dear," He shook his head and went into the back. Otis was a sweet man. I'd been coming to him for my Abuela's meds for years. "Here you are," He said, placing the paper bag on the counter.

I pulled out my purse to pay but Otis shook his head, pushing it away, "No, no, not to worry, dear. It's the end of the day," He excused me but he wouldn't have said that unless he'd noticed how I'm right on money at the moment. He probably noticed that because I always pay with card, never cash.

"Are you sure?" I quizzed, keeping my purse open just in case.

"Yes, yes, not to worry," He said and I nodded, shoving my purse away, "Go take care of your Grandmother, it's all good," He said and I smiled.

"Thank you, thanks so much," I thanked him, smiling and he waved his hand.

"Your welcome, dear, and it's no problem," He said, "Goodnight,"

"Thank you," I repeated, "Goodnight, Otis," I said and walked out the shop. The bell tinkled again as I closed the door behind me.

I shoved my hands back in my pockets and walked down the street. It was getting dark again and I knew the streets weren't safe at this time so I had to be home fast. It was Saturday night and I wasn't going out, but I had to walk past all the party goers hyped up on the streets.

I went past the corner shop as a girl was talking to a boy in a car, a few more boys stood nearby. As I walked past, I glanced over and made eye contact with the boy for a quick second before averting my gaze. I continued my walk, heard some more laughter and chatter from the boys and then I heard a motorbike engine rev.

I looked back, confused, and then the bike went speeding past. The person on the bike.

Pop!

A shot got fired.

I yelped and ducked down, covering my head.

Pop! Pop!

Other civilians screamed and ran away.

Pop!

The shooting finally stopped and I breathed out heavily, scared to look up for a second and once I was sure the bike was gone, I slowly stood up. I looked around and didn't see the girl that was talking to the boys in the car early, instead her body was on the road and she was laying in her own blood. I restrained myself from screaming and quickly walked away.

I didn't look back and just speed walked back home. I was sweating, despite the cold night, and out of breath by the time I got back to the flat. I shoved the keys in the hole and bust through the door. I closed it quickly and let out a sigh.

I removed my puffer jacket, which was now stuck to me, and wiped the sweat from my upper lip. "Nieta? Are you okay?" My Abuela called from the living room.

I felt sick in the stomach from what I saw and I couldn't get the image of the dead girl out of my mind. I felt myself stumbled and I put a hand to my head. I breathed in and regained my balance. I gulped down the lump in my throat and grabbed the paper bag with Abuela's meds off the side table where I placed them.