It was always you

Chapter 15

Life is hard, especially if you are a coloured person in America. White privilege is real, police brutality is real, especially if you are a person of colour.

The time stopped.

Everyone was moving in slow motion. At least to Sasha and Mateo.

"The one in black hoodie," the first police officer pointed towards Mateo.

"Where were you tonight?" the second police officer asked Mateo

"I.. uh" Mateo stammered, as he realised that both police officers were slowly reaching for their gun.

"He was with me the entire evening. He was with me in his house with his brother" Sasha answered slowly.

"Then why is his face beaten up" the second police officer asked.

"Speak!" the first police officer yelled

"Do you have any weapons on you?"

"N..no" Mateo unable to form words.

In slow motion, both police officers raised their guns pointing at Mateo, Sasha's eyes widened in horror.

"What are you doing?! He said he has no weapons on him!" Sasha screamed.

"Put your arms in the air" the first police officer yelled, Mateo slowly lifted his arms, but none of the police officers lowered their weapon.

Everything was in extreme slow motion, Sasha unsure of what to do, so she did what her instinct told her to. She called 911 and left her phone on the table, she stood in front of Mateo, shielding him.

"Step away miss!" the first officer yelled at her.

"NO" Sasha said firmly. "If you aren't going to lower your damn gun, I will protect him. You can shoot me. The media will have a field day, 2 police officers shooting an unarmed hispanic man and white woman for protecting the said hispanic man."

"Sasha, No" Mateo pleaded, "Move Sasha, please. I will be fine"

"Move miss" the first officer yelled again.

"I said NO. I will not stand aside watching you aim a gun at an innocent man. I will not stand here watching you abuse your powers. I will not fucking stand aside knowing that at any moment your finger might slip and shoot an innocent UNARMED MAN! Shoot me if you want to get to him. Arrest me if you please, but you leave this man alone!"

The first police officer turned off the safety on his gun. Pablo's eyes widened, Mateo's heart dropped.

"Go ahead, shoot me. Tomorrow you will lose your job, you will be one of the most hated men in America. Shoot me, shoot me for protecting an innocent man. I was with him earlier, we had witnesses in the house to account for his whereabouts, he's unarmed, you have no reason to point a gun at him." Sasha doesn't know how she managed to keep her voice steady, with tears running down her face.

"Move Sasha, please I beg you. Move." Mateo pleaded.

"Put your guns down now!" someone with higher authority yelled from the front door. Both officers immediately listened, the first officer turned his safety back on, but was on guard as ready to pounce.

"Officers, leave now!" the authoritative figure demanded.

"Yes Captain" both of them walked out looking back at Sasha.

The air was immediately lighter, Mateo dropped his hands slowly. Sasha still stood her ground, she refused to leave Mateo.

"You are a brave young woman. Standing in front of 2 police officers pointing a gun at you" the captain spoke.