Courage

Elizabeth

Work just continuously got busier and busier as if we were in a loop. Customers would leave and more would enter. It was never ending.

A young boy fell off his chair, right as I was walking past. He was crying yet his parents didn't notice. I crouch down to comfort him. I lift him back up to his seat and wipe his messy face with a napkin in front of him before rushing off to continue work.

A young couple left and I was cleaning their table I noticed a strange person, dressed all in black enter through the door. I quickly finish the cleaning and set up for the next customer.

I'm walking over to them. Heart beating fast. But why? Why was my heart beating so fast? It was just an ordinary customer.

I begin to welcome the person, "Hi, I'm-"

"Elizabeth, I know. Table for 1." The voice buts in. I look at them, trying to see under the hood. What could they be trying to hide? The voice sounded a little familiar, but I can't figure out who it sounded like. Though it was deep so it must've been a male.

"Right this way..." I say leading him to the freshly set table, still trying to figure out who they were and how they knew my name.

Time passes yet my mind still wonders. I make my way over to the table where the man is sitting, time feels as if it's going in slow motion. I see that a napkin had been folded different to the rest. Did the strange man fold this? I push all thoughts of this man away.

"Can I get u anything sir?" I ask, as usual.

"No I'm good, but may you- uh – um –take this, don't show anyone" He spat out, handing me the folded napkin. I quickly take it, thanking him before walking into the kitchen once again. I make a B-line straight for the freezer. My hands are shaking. I hold the napkin to my heart and lean against the shelves, head back. I'm scared, but why? It can't possibly be that bad.

I hold my hands out in front of me, napkin in the centre. I enclose it in my hands before tightening my fists. A sharp pain runs from my left hand up my arm. The napkin begins to turn red. I drop the napkin, it hits the floor hard. I stare at my hand as a wide open cut, oozes with blood. I look around, searching for something, a bandage, anything. Out of the corner of my eye I see a tea towel. I run, almost slipping over on the icy floor. Quickly I wrap it around my hand, applying pressure. I drop to the floor, a small tear falls from my eye. I close my eyes and lie to the cold floor. Silence.

I open my eyes, just minutes later to stare at the napkin in front of me. With my unwounded hand, shaking and unsteady, I carefully grab it. Slowly I sit up. My head throbbing. My hand pounding. I unfold the napkin to see a piece of shattered glass and a folded bit of paper.

'Run, while you still can' it reads. I toss it aside. Lie back down. Close my eyes. It's probably nothing.

I awake to screaming. As fast as lightning I'm up. The pain in my hand is hardly anymore. I rush out the door into the main dining area. All is quiet except our manager who is screaming. I move to see who it is he is screaming at. The man in the hood?! The manager is leaning over him. Veins popping in his fists. I have to stop this. I walk up to the table. "What's going on over here?" I ask. I try to stay confident.

"This costumer has been here for almost an hour and hasn't ordered anything!" He yells, mainly at me. "Besides he looks pretty suspicious."

I didn't know what to say. He was yelling at me. Staring me down. I think. Looking around I can see the strange man head up a bit more. It looks like he's staring at my hand. I put it behind my back.

The manager steps closer. I step back.

"Sir, with much respect..." I think. How do I say this? "Umm... Maybe you could say it in a nicer way." I stop. He stares at me blankly. He stares for what feels like forever.

Eventually he smiles. "Say it nicer? OK." He looks at the man again before turning straight back to me. Confusion. That's what I felt. "You're fired" He smiles, "NOW GET OUT" His face goes mad. I feel tears build up in my eyes. I start to walk away before stopping to look back at the curious man. He is starting to walk away. Head bowed. I turn back and keep walking to my locker to collect my stuff.

I reach the lockers and open mine. Staring at my hand. It was his fault, that stupid man. Why would you even come to a restaurant wearing a hood and not order anything. Actually... No. It wasn't his fault. It was mine. I'm the reason I'm fired. No-one else's. I collect all my things from my locker. Tears still rolling. I flop to the floor clutching my jacket and bag to my chest. I place my face in my jacket. I'm balling my eyes out now. Over a year I've worked here. Now I don't. No one can comfort me either. Everyone else is out working.

I sit there, crying. Before suddenly a gunshot echoes through my ears. It was close. Too close. I try to stand up. But fall. My legs are numb, great. I crawl to the door that leads to the dining area. I peep through a small gap. I can hardly see. I open it a little bit more. I can see! But it's not good. People are on the floor, under tables, kneeling. Most adults, protecting their young. Their petrified, you can see it on their faces.

As I move more I can see men, about 10, all wearing black. Just like the man from earlier. Wait! Could the man from earlier be here? In this gang?

My legs are no longer numb. I stand up and as quiet as possible run and hide. I run to the locker bay. In a corner. I can hear my own breaths. Feel my own heart. Yet I only see black. My eyes are closed tight.

Through the wall I can hear yelling and screaming before a gunshot once again lets loose. My eyes shoot open. They are serious. They will kill. This is not a joke.

Should I call the cops? Should I stay as I am? Should I make a run for it? So many questions rushing through my head. But what do I do?

If I call the cops they will go to jail, yet when they get out and they will find me, then they will come after me.

If I stay as I am nothing will happen until they leave. Yet more people will die.

If I make a run for it they will most likely catch me and shoot me. Then and there.

But before I can make a choice... All goes black.I fainted. Collapsed. Unable to make a final choice that depends on the life ofothers and my own.