1984

I lay in the grass, the sun shining on my face, listening to the leaves rustle in the wind. When a shadow crossed my face, I opened my eyes expecting to see clouds. but reality quickly struck me across the face, “you don’t belong here!” another blunt strike to my face and then ear, the ringing only muffled out the rage of the protest, I stumbled a few feet hoping to catch my breath and was met again with another vicious blow, face down I could smell and taste the grass mixed my blood, as another strike came down between my shoulder blades, “stop it please!” I heard a woman shout as I felt the weight of her body sheild me, the smell of what I could only assume was tear gas soon consumed the crowd, adrenaline must’ve finally kicked in as I stumbled onto my feet clumsily, just as soon as I caught my breath I was choking on smoke, but still movin, finding myself alone and away from the crowd I wedged myself between two dumpsters behind the corner 7-11, blood and snot running down my face the overwhelming taste of blood in my mouth, all on a hot summer afternoon, I lost a shoe, a tooth and a lot of pride, a humbling moment for sure, questioning my own beliefs I pulled myself up to my feet and out from between the dumpsters, “ there he is“ I heard a familiar voice shout as the woman who I assume was the one who shielded me in the chaos came running with my shoe in her hand, as She handed me my shoe. I tried to thank her, but my mouth filled up with blood, and I realized I have bitten more than halfway into my tongue, Noticing I had a couple of broken fingers, She offered to help me with my shoe. I politely declined showing her that putting it on was as easy as it came off, “I’m taking you to get help“ she said in a stern mother like tone, “I’m not gonna fith ya” I jokingly replied , “I’m Julie Anne“ trying to reply my mouth again filled up with blood “its ok” Julie Anne said “but I got to ask, and you don’t really have to say it you could just nod your head Yes Or no, but was it worth It?“ was It worth The missing tooth broken fingers, the black eye that later formed? It must’ve been a mix of the pain and panic, but until she asked, it was almost as if I forgot, Forgot about The flames that almost consumed a masterpiece the numbers boldly printed on one side of a beautiful leather covered casing called to my soul and mind, painfully, slowly, I reached up under my shirt and pulled from my waist band, 1984 by George Orwell,

“YETH!” I said with a mouth full of blood, and a toothless smile, “YETH!” Julie Anne repeated as we made our way to an ambulance on standby.