Things that Linger in the Dark

It was midnight, the moon at its highest peak. The leaves were colored red, brown, and yellow due to it being my favorite season. Fall. It was a chilly night, as far as I can remember. I had just left my bartending job downtown.

Mom always told me to keep pepper spray on me at all times, being paranoid as she was. Of course, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. I clutched my right hand that had the pepper spray in it harder, turning my head side to side while walking down the darkened street.

Cue creepy screechy sounds. I stopped dead in my tracks, eyes alert. There was nothing but a shallow street light at the corner of the block in front of me. My breathing quickened as I turned away from the noise, back from where I just came.

Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared in my eyesight. Tall, hooded, terrifying. He took one step forward and that's all I needed to get the hell out of there. I turned and ran faster than I ever ran, quicker than when I was in school P.E. doing that stupid required pacer test.

Soon, my throat burned from inhaling so hard. I took a quick peek behind me and saw absolutely nothing. No horrifying man who no doubt was going to sell my body and take my money (he would've been disappointed, I have about $20 in cash).

Although the man was no where to be found, I didn't stop running. There was still so much I wanted to experience in life! I wanted to fall deeply in love, get hurt! I needed to experience every emotion so NOTHING was going to happen to me, I won't let it!

"Hi."