Taking Chances

Seven

I spend my entire Saturday, vacuuming the entire apartment. I do my laundry and any other thing to hold me off from making the call.

Sunday morning I wake up and go to the salon to change my braids. I change my braids, wash my hair and do soft locks. I think they look good on me.

At around 12 noon I am done and I pay my hairdresser. I walk into my car and drive around town.

I finally settle on a Chinese restaurant and eat lunch there.

After lunch I buy some groceries I need at home and head back.

At around 3 pm, after contemplating so many times, I finally decide to do it. I call her.

She picks up after three rings...

"Hello," her soft voice sounds over the phone.

"Hi, it's Zuhrah. Zuhrah June." I respond.

I can feel her breath hitching over the phone, she's quiet.

After about a minute she's says

"Okay,"... Just okay.

"Can we meet today?" I ask her

"Where?" She responds

"Ree Park," I answer

"Okay, I will be there in thirty minutes," she says.

"Okay, me too," I tell her.

I cute the call and start freaking out...

What do I wear?

This is absurd, why am I thinking about what to wear as if this is a date.

Still. I change from the dress I was wearing into blue skinny jeans and a brown sweater. I also  put some brown sneakers and I get into the car.

I arrive about thirty minutes later.

There are a few people. Children, families, some people walking their dogs. I chose this spot because I know it's safe. I look around I don't see her.

Just when I was taking out my phone, I see an orange BMW convertible driving up an parking next to mine. It's her and I go to her. She comes out of the car.

"Hi," she says after seeing me.

"Hi," I respond.

She's wearing beige coloured slacks and a black hoodie with blue sneakers. It's strange seeing her out if her work clothes... I suppose she thinks the same about me. She looks different, but still very cute.

Referring to someone who killed two men before my eyes as being  'cute' is not really conventional I think to myself...

We walk towards a bench a sit down.

We are both quiet for over two minutes just looking around us.

I look around to see if there is no one near us.

I break the ice.

"I was working late that day. I went to buy some pizza at the pizza place. As I was walking towards my car, I saw two men approaching you and they looked like they wanted to harm you. I took out my pepper spray and sneaked up to the scene to try and help you... As I was getting closer, they grabbed you and after that I saw them falling dead on the floor...." I tell her...

She's looking at the grass...

"I promise I won't tell anyone... I know you were just protecting yourself... Please don't see me as a threat and try to come for me..." I continue...