Chapter 5 Right Place, Wrong Time

Boston's Tragic Experience:

Deep into the night, flashing red and blue lights gathered around his apartment building! The sound of police sirens races down the Chicago Streetsville area! My heart was pounding as hard as I ran as fast as possible. The fear, pain, and sheer thought of what the police will do to me kept the push in my step. I was moving as fast as I could in an unfamiliar city. Then, in the deep of the night, lightning begins crackling in the sky, making me cringe. My nerves were already shaken and on edge.

"I have to escape. I need to get from around here." I stopped for a second, trying to decide which way to turn. I chose to go right, and when I did, I stopped at eh corner where I saw the cops flying down the street.

By the skin of my teeth, I go unnoticed. Six feet two was hard to disguise, but I got to the ground next to someone's car, using their tires as coverage. I see the bright searchlight aimed in my direction. The cops are swarming all over the area; I stay low to the ground, still on the move looking for somewhere, anywhere to hide!

What took place:

Pop! Pop! Pop! The gunshots are still ringing in my ears hours later! I had never heard gunshots in real life, nor had I ever been shot!

When I came home from the office tonight, I exited the elevator that deposited me on my apartment floor. Distracted by the blown-out light bulbs and dark hallway, I ended up at the right place but at the wrong time! I tried to ignore the two men and a woman arguing at the other end of the hallway. It was late, and I was tired, and all he wanted to do was go inside, take a bath, and go to bed.

But when I put my key into my door. I heard the woman scream! It caught my attention as I looked up and saw this man beating the lady without mercy! My conscience wouldn't allow me as a man to stand there and witness something so horrendous! The man kicked and punched the woman! So my instincts and reaction cause me to intercede.

I yell out down the hallway, "Hey! That's enough!"

I was shocked! The man immediately pulls out a gun and point-blank shoots the girl! Then he shoots at me! I was standing about twelve feet away! Maybe a little more. With very little time to react. I felt something warm go through my body, but I thought my adrenaline kicked. Everything happened so fast. I don't think I realized I had become a target! A man turned, shooting again in my direction. I dropped down to the hallway floor. The two men took off, running down the dim-lit hallway to the stairway as fast as they could!

All I heard was my neighbors yelling, "Call the cops! The guy is still in the hallway! He's the one who shot that woman! Call the cops; before he gets away!"

I couldn't believe my neighbors accused me of shooting the young lady! I didn't realize that I had gotten hit! Seeing that man shoot that woman without regard for her life shocked me! Then when he pointed that gun at me and pulled the trigger, I was flabbergasted and left so confused! I managed to get down when he shot off his gun again! That poor woman must be dead! He shot her close range! I could barely see but I knew I had to leave before the cops arrived. My life was in danger in more ways than one! So, I ran out of fear for my own life.

A few minutes later, I felt something like hot metal searing a gaping hole through my flesh. But my adrenaline, along with vivid images that will be forever carved into my brain of actually seeing that girl get gunned down, kept me moving. I knew I needed help myself. So I continue to run, never looking back!

I have complained about the dim lighting in my apartment building for weeks! Now because of it, I'm being mistaken as a criminal by all my neighbors! I don't visibly remember anyone coming out of their apartment to help the girl. Instead, people peeped behind cracked doors, yelling, "call the police!"

Many saw me in-flight running away from what turned out to be a horrific crime scene!

The young lady I tried to help was new to the apartment complex; she had been living there for only a few months. Brenda, my girlfriend, had met my neighbor several times. I hadn't even had the opportunity to meet the young lady. Unfortunately, I was busy working late; now, she may be dead!

I got away on foot from my apartment building before the cops arrived. But as time passed, I tried to get to my car in the apartment parking garage. But that seemed impossible. The place was crawling with the police. I could see them as I stood behind the light pole at the corner. Then I see my car being towed away behind a tote truck. "No!" I yelled quietly. It was a nightmare that I wished I could wake up from.

I had no choice but to keep on the move by foot for my own life's safety. I became aware that my arm or shoulder was bleeding! The more he ran or walked, the more I lost blood. I had to get some help. Raphael was the only person I thought of going to for use, but he stayed on the other side of town, knowing he wouldn't last trying to take that trek across town.

I spent the night dodging close calls with the cops that had penetrated the neighborhood and surrounded the area. There was no way I could return home, and I couldn't go to the nearest hospital in my part of town. They had the hospital and gas stations surrounded.

After several hours of moving, I found myself in an unfamiliar locale, quite some distance from where he lived. I became exhausted and weak; I knew I had to get some help soon, or I would bleed.

I had walked so far that the feeling of delirium was beginning to set in, to the point I was heading right toward a set of headlights. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the lights belonged to a cop's car because of my state of mind. But when the car started moving closer, I came to my senses and ran into some dark alley. And to my surprise, the police car zoomed right past me!

The stench of urine and human waste filled the air. I put my hand over my mouth and nose. I wanted to barf! It wasn't just the smell of feces. The scent of drug users and dealers, hookers, and other deviants had been there. I was indeed in another part of the time. The walls were covered with graffiti-streaked, cracked, and mangled concrete.

But right now, I couldn't care about any of my surroundings. I had to remove this dress shirt and tie it on my bleeding arm and shoulder to slow down blood loss. I even rummaged through the trash bends to see if someone had thrown something away I could take for the excruciating pain. There was nothing!

I found myself slumped tearfully against the dirty urine infested building. Everything was taking a toll on my mental and physical state of mind. A dog barked in the distance, followed by the unmistakable yelp! At the sound of a wounded animal! Something in me snapped! I rolled my shoulders forward, with my hands fisted by my side! My eyes narrowed into tight slits.

I found the strength, breathing harder, readying for a fight! I walk further into the night. At some distance, I see an emergency hospital sign. I was suffering, but I hid while waiting in the back of the emergency parking lot. There were only a few scattered cars still on the lot. So I checked to see if someone had left a door open.

"Nothing! I got to keep trying to find a car door open." I tested each door, and finally, I found an open car.

I climbed into the back seat and waited for anyone to help me. My mind had darkened, telling me this was the only way to keep from dying.