CWRC Anthology

CHANCE

CHANCE

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©Idowu Kehinde Elizabeth
...

"Nothing makes sense, yet everything makes complete sense."
..

My name is Angela Rose and I've been working at the same job for the past five months. It's slow, predictable but comfortable. I work as a Sales clerk at a local Mini Mart and work has been bearable yet slow.

I'm twenty-five, I have pale blue eyes with raven black hair. Having been working at the mart for a few months I am pretty much familiar with the regulars. One of these regulars was a guy. He was always wearing a black hoodie with an Oriole printed in front of it. He seemed to be no taller than 6'2.
He always came in at about 6pm, he would buy a couple of instant noodles and a soda, pay for his goods and then leave. But not before shyly glancing up at me from under his hood.

I taught it was strange at first or maybe he knew me from somewhere. From where I always stood behind the counter I could immediately tell he was African-American and light skinned, his messy curls always poked out from under his hood.

I wondered if he was also a student at the local community College nearby. A lot of them did come around often. Ever since I'd been working at the mart, he'd never spoken a word to me. I also schooled at the local community College, I was an English Major and have never seen him in school. He must be in another department.

Quickly, my shift ended for the day and I handed over the keys after taking care of the money at the register and making proper records. I had to because the owner had started complaining that someone was stealing her money and she suspected it was Roland, the one who came in for the night shift.

Roland's cold green eyes glimmered as he strolled towards the counter and took off his coat. I hurried up and grabbed my coat and made my way out the door.

"I'll leave the rest to you. Goodnight."
"Night."
We didn't talk much. I thought that would be the end of work that day and I would be free for the rest of the day but that was until I heard Roland's chuckle.
"Is that it?"
"Is 'goodnight' all you're gonna say to me?"
I turned confused. "What do you mean?"

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. Rolland was at least a head taller than me, he was handsome and also a student at Queen's College but he was notorious for always causing trouble. I was almost certain he was in a gang.
"You must look down on me a lot, Rose."
I hated the way he said my name.

"What are you saying? Are you drunk again?"
Roland let out a dry chuckle and started walking slowly towards me.
"Do I look drunk?"
"That's the thing with you churchy girls, you must think you're better than everyone else."
"Not everyone else, but at least I don't come to work intoxicated."

Roland chuckled and then his mouth settled in a frown.
"You have a filthy mouth. Don't worry, I'll help you seal it shut...forever."
Roland walked menacingly towards me with a grin as he drew out a small, sharp, pocket knife from his back pocket.

I took a step back, startled. "W-What do you think you're doing?"
"Isn't it obvious, I'm gonna teach you a lesson."
I noticed his eyes glint excitedly. I looked around the mart, it was already dark and there was no one currently in the mart except for the two of us. I knew I was trapped, I shouldn't have ran my mouth like that. He was much bigger than I.

As he lunged for me, reflexively,  I shielded my body with my hands but after several seconds in that position and I didn't feel any pain I let down my hands. My eyes widened as I stared at the scene in front of me. The mysterious hooded guy was restraining Roland, the hand holding the knife firmly held behind his back.

The hooded guy disarmed him and held him to the floor. He looked up at me and I gasped in surprise. For the first time, I could see his eyes clearly, they were dark as night but they held a calming feel to them, like I could trust them.