2 May 1984
The room crackled with tension as my words sliced through the air, each one a sharp dagger aimed at my aunt's heart. It was a betrayal of the silent understanding we had shared since tragedy had struck our family, leaving me orphaned at the age of three. Yet, at that moment, I seemed oblivious to the sacrifices my aunt had made to raise me as her own.
"Stop acting like my mother. You don't own me. I'm going to the prom whether you like it or not," my voice quivered with a mixture of defiance and pain, and my eyes blazing with a fire fueled by years of unspoken resentment
My aunt recoiled as if struck, her face a mask of hurt and disbelief.
"Fine! Go ahead, get drunk and spread your legs to that filthy boy of yours who wants nothing from you but your body, I warned you so many times to stay away from him he's a bad influence but fine. you want to rebel and be a riot girl? go ahead. The door is wide open, Delilah! But if anything bad happens to you, don't you ever come crawling to me because I'm sick of cleaning your mess."
I slammed the door shut behind her. We haven't spoken for the rest of the night. I pretended to be sleeping, and I thought she went to sleep, too.
I stepped out into the cool night air, the darkness wrapping around me like a cloak of secrecy. My heart raced with anticipation as I made my way to the prom, leaving behind the confines of my aunt's house and the simmering tension between us.
The music throbbed in the distance, beckoning me forward with promises of freedom and excitement, they were dancing to white wedding by Billy Idol and as I entered the crowded venue, the vibrant energy of the dance floor washed over me, momentarily drowning out the worries that had plagued my mind.
I saw a handsome tall man with wavy shoulder-length hair and sunglasses, standing behind the DJ, and they both were laughing. I was so focused on his smile while dancing with David, my boyfriend.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" David shouted while spinning me around and smirking at me.
"I don't think I can stay too long. My aunt doesn't know I'm here, and it's getting la-"
Suddenly and without warning, chaos erupted. The sharp crack of gunfire shattered the air, sending shockwaves of panic through the crowd. Instinct took over as I fought to make sense of the madness unfolding around me. Amidst the chaos, I found myself running alongside David, seeking refuge in the safety of the night. But as we sought shelter in the shadows of an alleyway, his intentions became chillingly clear.
"Stop! What are you doing?" I said jokingly, trying to push him off of me because I thought he was just messing around.
"I'm serious, babe, stop we have to call 911" his grip tightened on my forearm, and as I tried to push him, he seemed to become more violent.
"DAVID STOP!"
With a primal scream echoing through the night, I exerted every ounce of strength within me to
forcefully thrust him to the ground. and as I attempted to flee, his vice-like grip ensnared my ankle, pulling me back with brutal force.
In a haze of fear and adrenaline, rational thought abandoned me. My trembling hand insinstinctively seized the nearest rock, its jagged edges biting into my palm as I swung with all my might. Again and again, the heavy thud of impact reverberated through the air, each blow accompanied by the sickening splatter of crimson blood that painted my face, my hands, my white dress, and the ground..
As I knelt there, trembling and breathless, the weight of what I had done pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket, I felt a presence at my side.
Startled, I looked up to find the familiar figure of the man from the prom standing before me, his eyes filled with concern and confusion.
His olive skin illuminated by the faint glow of the streetlights, approached with cautious steps. My heart raced as he drew nearer that was the guy at the prom, he was the one laughing and joking with the DJ.. and he saw me, he saw me murdering David
"Are you okay? I heard a scream 3 blocks from here. Was that you?"
I tried to respond, but fear held my tongue captive. I trembled at the thought of what I had done, of the possibility that I had caused irreparable harm.
As the man's concerned gaze bore into mine, I felt a wave of panic wash over me. What if my actions had been too severe? What if I had gone too far in my attempt to defend myself? Fuck what if he's a police officer or a gang member what the fuck have I done..
I stammered out a response, my voice barely audible above the pounding of my heart
"I... I don't know. I think I... I hurt him," I whispered, my hands trembling with guilt and fear.
