You are no angel
Page 16
As I pushed the door open and exited to the sidewalk, I looked to the East. The sun had only just begun to paint the horizon with blush. I was on time. Taking a deep breath, I hooked my thumbs into the straps at my shoulders and forced a smile.
Think positive, I thought, closing my eyes. Thank you, Mama and Daddy, this is all because of you, I continued with my eyes lightly closed and the cool air softly caressing my cheeks.
Opening my eyes, I walked two blocks up and turned left, going deeper into the city. It was a forty-minute brisk walk to the library; a walk that I had always enjoyed. It never failed that by the time I reached my destination, whatever had been bothering me when I left my apartment would seem insignificant, and I would be ready to tackle whatever came my way that day.
Twenty-five minutes into the walk, I stopped on the sidewalk, smiling toward the burst of light on the horizon. There was only a cab idling at the red light, and everything was peaceful—that’s another reason I liked the early morning hours. Before the drone and roar of endless traffic started up every day, I had time to mentally set my path for success for that day. I know, it sounds a little Zen-ish, but it worked for me.
The crossing light turned red as I stopped. The cab idled past me, the driver looking at me to see if perhaps I would summon him. I smiled and looked back to the crossing light. Checking both ways, there was no traffic. I was tempted to cross the street quickly but thought better of it when I heard what sounded like a street bike whining through the gears in the distance. I couldn’t tell how far away it was, or really even which direction it was coming from because of the echo effect of the empty streets and the tall buildings.
After the crossing light turned, I could still hear the motorcycle’s whine, it was just louder. Glancing at the light again, I ventured onto the street, looking to my left where I thought the sound was coming from.
I made it a few steps out when I realized the sound was coming from my right. My attention snapped toward the speeding red and black motorcycle as he came around the turn leaned close to the pavement. He was in the wrong lane and his head was turned in the opposite direction as he half-assed checked for traffic he could have been speeding in front of. Scrambling backward to avoid being hit, my foot caught on the curb and sprawled backward onto the sidewalk, landing on my backpack.
The rider stopped the motorcycle just on the other side of the intersection, looking over his shoulder. I had felt the damage to my laptop and was nearly in a panic as I got to my knees and unshouldered my backpack. The motorcycle swung back around and headed toward me slowly. I pulled the laptop from my bag, and my heart dropped sickeningly into my gut. I gently opened it as the guy flipped up the helmet’s visor and then pulled the whole thing off, dangling it in one hand.
“Hey, are you okay, lady?” His ride idled just loud enough to be annoying.
I looked sadly at the ruined, shattered screen, and then turned to him. Standing, brandishing my broken computer at arm’s length, I advanced so he could see what he had caused. “What the hell is wrong with you? You nearly killed me, and you broke my laptop!” I stepped closer so he could get a good look.
Snorting laughter, he eyed me as if I were a little inconsequential insect. “Nearly killed you? I wasn’t even close to you. You’re the one who ran out in front of me and then panicked. I just stopped to be sure you hadn’t hurt yourself.” His condescending tone infuriated me.
“You were even in the wrong lane! And look!” I shook the computer at him again. “You need to pay for this, mister. This is your fault. My crossing light was green, and your light was red. Don’t you know that means stop?” I was screaming still. Without my computer, there was no way I’d make it through my classes.
He scoffed. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that asshat scoffed. I wanted to hurt him.
“Like I said, you ran out in front of me. You’re just lucky I’m such a damn good driver. Anyone else might have hit your stupid ass. Next time, look before you cross the damn road.” He revved up the bike, put it into gear, and turned it around, speeding off into the shadowed street ahead.
As he turned, I got his license plate number and hastily scribbled it onto my hand. Grumbling, still raging inside, I stuffed my broken laptop back into the pack, and adjusted my course. I headed to the police station. The library wasn’t happening without a computer anyway.
The policewoman who helped me was nice, which was an exception instead of a rule at the local PD. I was thankful for her understanding and willingness to give me the time I needed to get through the whole story. Most would have rushed me, rolled their eyes, and only taken part of the story into consideration before finalizing the complaint and pushing me out the door.
“We can pull the footage from the traffic cams in the area and see exactly what happened, Miss Shandon.” She led me to the door. “We’ll do everything we can.” There was a gleam in her eye as she flipped the papers against her hand, and her smile said she knew something that maybe I didn’t about the situation.
Hoping for the best but truly expecting nothing to come of it, I thanked her and trudged out the door thinking how many extra shifts I would need to work to be able to afford another laptop. I hated the thought that I might have to ask my father to front the expense, but I desperately needed my laptop to get through my classes.
What had started out as a normal, hopeful day for me, had ended up turning into a steaming pile of uncertainty, anger, and sore muscles. By the time I made it to my first class of the day, my head pounded as if there were a jackhammer on the loose inside it.
It was going to be a very long day, indeed.
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