It's a cold fall night, and I'm walking down the street, hands in my pockets, trying to hurry to the store before it closes at ten. The streets are empty except for the occasional car driving by. The wind cuts through me hard all the way to the bone. It must be the humidity. "Almost there," I tell myself, looking forward to the warmth of the store and the cigarette i will be able to smoke after making my purchase. My mind wanders as it always does while walking... and i stop. Pain. Intense pain in the middle of my back. It's blinding, and i can't seem to breathe. I try to scream anyway. There's a hand over my mouth. I hear deep, slow breathing behind me. I feel the warmth on the back of my neck. I can't find the strength to struggle. I go limp. I fall. The pain has dulled a bit, but my vision is fading. Blackness threatens to take over. My lungs feel heavy. I cough and a heavy liquid pours out of my mouth. It tastes like blood. I hear footsteps. I feel hands probing my pockets. My wallet is taken, followed by my lighter and the pocket knife my dad gave me before he died. It feels like hot coals have been ignited inside my lungs. The blackness continues to close in. I'm cold, but at least the pain in my back has numbed. My ears are ringing. "Why?" I ask myself. I can't hear anymore. My lungs continue to burn. Then it's completely dark. And i wake up. I'm in my bed, sitting up. I wipe the cold sweat from my face and reach around to my back. It aches a bit, but no hole. It's nine-thirty p.m., and if i hurry, i can make it to the store and pick up a pack of cigarettes.
