Yours Truly 2016 / Cascadia College / Bothell, WA | Page 29

Shannon

had escalated. The image of them was
burned in my brain—both mid-fifties, poorly
dressed, and clearly intoxicated. It was a
miracle that they left me standing here by

the cereal even after I saw the gun.
“Please,” whined the female voice.
Stay with me.
I don’t want to die. I haven’t met my Prince
I’d seen enough movies to know not to
Charming yet.
risk my life trying to catch a glimpse of the
I thought about the impossibly goodaction.
looking guy at Shucks who smiled shyly at
Oh my god, this is not happening.
me as he rung up my wiper blades. I could
So much for a quick trip to the grocery
tell he liked me, but I wouldn’t smile back
store.
because my friends all had husbands with
Distant conversations came through
jobs at Microsoft and Boeing.
the phone I had pressed to my ear. The
Something fell over near where the
911 operator had insisted I stay on the line
shouting was coming from.
until the police arrived. I was going to be
“Don’t you move!” Rob, the angry male
a hero. Up front, the shouting continued
voice again.
and I strained to make it out over the loud
“Jesus Christ, put the gun down! The
pounding in my ears. I could only hear bits
female voice sounded calmer now, but I
and pieces.
could tell it was a fake calm.
“Go ahead! Shoot me!” (the tearful female
“Oh! Okay, Shannon! I’ll just put it right
voice).
over here,” feet shuffling, “and then we can
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” (the angry
all go to Olive Garden and talk about our
male voice).
feelings!”
I found myself staring at my basket of
Shannon gasped. Or maybe it was
organic single-serving dinner options on the
someone else.
floor beside me.
I wish I wasn’t alone back here. It was
I’m going to die. I’m too young and pretty to
always nearly empty in the middle of day,
die. The absurd idea came to me that I had a
hair appointment in forty-five minutes.
“Rob,” moaned the female voice up front.
Only a few minutes had passed since the
couple had started arguing just feet away
from me, and I couldn’t believe how fast it

Daphne Fissel

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