Saving Graces

       Trying to lose myself in the life of the city, I always seem to end up at the harbour. I’m not sure if it’s the water, the lights, the view, but I can’t seem to stay away. Weather I want to clear my head, or just lose the problems of the world, anything seems possible when I am starring into that void. But to be ripped into consciousness by a terrified scream, is just as cruel to those not in pain.

       It was a little past eight thirty in the evening, if memory serves correct, and I was a bit wound up from my former company and the movie we just saw. Knowing how well walking always soothes me, I figured a night time trip to the harbour would be well rewarded; walking, watching, listening to the street performers, and trying to make a symphony from the various melodies, I caught something swift from the corner of my eye. Jerking about to see what it was, I saw a woman wearing pink screaming and a man getting off a bench. I couldn’t tell if he had hit her, or just knocked a drink from her hand, but she was walking away and the man made no attempt to follow. ‘Two people fighting, it is bound to happen.’ I thought, ‘No one is hurt, so what should I care?’

       I continued walking, moving through the crowds, who were gathering around the closing shops, trying to steal away the minutes before the district shut down. Ease dropping, as I often do, on the various languages being spoken, trying to pick out the words I know from each. I sort of clenched my eyes, laughing under my breathe at something I think was just said, when I felt a jolt. Jarring awake, I realized that I had just collided with a young woman. Early twenties, dirty blonde hair a mess, she was shaking, and seemed to be in a hurry. She apologized, too many times, and ran off into the dark; still in shock I wasn’t even able to mutter a word. I shook it off, and continued along my path, when I saw the woman in pink sitting alone crying. I wasn’t about to approach her, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to procrastinate in the area a while. Trying not to be too obvious I pretended to watch some underage students dancing, while peaking at her in the corner of my eyes. I was too busy keeping up with her, that I completely missed the earlier brute’s arrival until he was right next to her.

       They started yelling almost instantly, and no one seemed to be paying them any attention. The man kept making references to her bag, and after numerous refusals, he lunged for the object. She put up little resistance, until he had it in his hands. Before he could open it, she was on his back, digging her nails into his neck, but then the bastard grabbed her head and slammed it into the bench she had been sitting on earlier. That was enough for me, and I started running towards them, yet strangely the act of me running got more attention than the fighting a short distance away. The woman got up as he was opening her bag, and when she tried to reclaim it, the monster hit her across the chest with his elbow. I managed to grab his arm before the lady hit the ground, and he reacted with little thought by pushing me away.

       I shifted my weight, landing hard on my right heel, trying a bit much to make it where I didn’t budge from his assault. “You don’t want to do this.” I muttered, to which he laughed, and asked me to speak up. “I don’t want to hurt you.” I said, more forceful than before, but still not sure enough of myself.

       He swung at me, missing me as I shifted back on my heal which shot pain up my leg from how I had tried to stop myself a moment ago. I stepped back, ducking slightly trying not to show that my foot was in pain. At the same moment he came back with his other fist, which I had luckily moved out of range of when I had repositioned my feet. Seemingly perplexed by my pre-cognitive move, he stopped for a second, and I stood fully upright, pressing out my chest and shoulders. He looked at me, my scrawny arms and sturdy legs, knowing I had the obvious height advantage, I think he was judging a fight between us. Before either of us significantly moved again, I heard women’s voices imploring their male counterparts to come to the crying woman’s aid. Before he was able to finish his battle scenario, I had four males of varying size to support my cause. The man turned to walk away, and one of the men commanded him to return the young lady’s purse. He reluctantly agreed, and the expression he used in the return of the purse is how I imagine most people would look watching their house burn down. The fearsome five disbanded, and the woman in pink retreated to a bathroom, I suppose to better appraise her current condition. I was shaking a bit, from the recently averted scuffle, and decided it best to return home.

       Apparently the ruckus had finally captured the attention of everyone nearby, including the distracted young woman from earlier. As I walked, she approached me and whispered that it was a good thing I had done. I stopped, which seemed to scare her, but before she could hurry off I thanked her and apologized for running her down earlier. She apologized even more for having been so careless, and offered to buy me a drink sometime. She turned off, quickly trying to make her escape, and I insisted that sometime be now. She stopped, looking back with a curious look on her face. ”It is just an expression...” she said, looking directly at the sidewalk. I waved my hand between her and the ground, lifting it up to my face. When our eyes meet I said, “Yeah, but I’m really thirsty.”

       She giggled, trying hard not to laugh, and I just hoped that no one else thought that sounded as horrible as it did to me. We crossed the street, to a well placed McDonalds, to stand in a slowly moving line. She didn’t say a word, instead just prodding through her purse to give me the money for the drink. After handing me the change, I placed my order at the counter; however when I turned around the young woman was gone and the impatient people were imploring me to take my purchase. I took my drink and went outside, and as I thought, there were no clues as to where she vanished off to. Taking my reward for a job well done, I returned home, even more wound up than before I was when I had started this walk.