A is for ADRIAN

The sound of the sirens faded soon enough to join the silent night.  But Adrian didn’t stop. His palpitations were drums in his ears, black spots filled his vision, his lungs begged for air.

How long Adrian had been running? His chestnut hair was glued to his forehead and neck, his legs weren’t there anymore, instead, he had two big pieces of concrete and even though he was still running.

It was self-defense. He shouldn’t have listened to that woman. He should have stayed. What did she know? He didn’t do anything wrong…did he?

No, no, no.

Adrian’s legs finally gave up and he landed on his knees. Panting, he grabbed his chest trying to hold his heart. Was this how a heart-attack feels? He was going to die in a dark alley alone like he had always been.

It wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t fair. It had never been with him, still, he had hope. Adrian worked hard to graduate from high school this year. He thought that maybe someday he would go to university and become a lawyer so he could help others like him to find fairness.

He had never cried before, what was the point? But now what else Adrian could do? He was going to die, nor he was going to jail and in either case, his beautiful angel wouldn’t even know that he existed.

    His angel was the most extraordinary creature he had seen on Earth, Adrian fell in love with her the first time he listened to her playing the violin. He should have said something to her. There were so many things he should have done, there were so many things he wanted to do.

The noise of a trash can lid knocking onto the floor made Adrian jumped on his feet. He looked around with his hands into a fist, a famished cat came out from the garbage, lonely and a survivor like him.

Adrian closed his eyes.

Breathe, exhale, breathe, exhale. One more time.

He wasn’t going to die today.

He wasn’t going to jail.

This time, he was going to win.

Life owed him, and he was ready to claim it.   

Note: Images were taken from google.com and atozchalenge.com