LATE TRAIN

Walking home
Alone
Along a gray asphalt walk
Banked by tall hedges
On either side
She walks head tall with pride
Fear inside
Masked by a learned lesson
Learned by fire
The burn
The scar not lessened
By time
She pulls her coat close
In the freezing night
The overhead light
Is dim
The clicking
Of her heels
Is sticking
In her head
What am I thinking
She strides to a bench
And pulls sneakers from her bag
Removing the binds
Of corporate requirements
Freeing her aching soles
Instead placing it in a soft
Air filled chamber
She ties the laces
With traces
Of feeling a bit better
But as she stands
She hears the rustling
Of dead leaves and branches
Within or behind
The hedge
The tingling adrenaline prickles
Tickles
The back of her neck
She hears it again
She starts walking
Heart is thumping
Jumping
Bringing a lump in
To her throat
Oh no
Don't panic
She feels it rising
Her face grows hot
Her body has a surreal
Hot cold numb edginess
Her strides are quicker
She is outside the ring of light
Ten yards to the next one
Will it happen then
Are those footsteps
Why is she not home yet
Home in this city
Away from all she knows
She grows
More fearful with every second
Trying to get to that place
In tag
Base
The circle from the light
The haven
The other side is trees
And park
And dark
Things are moving
She can feel them
She can feel everything
Her eyes dart back and forth
Should she run
Say something
Suddenly as she is leaving the light
A sensory perception overload
Washes over her from head to toe
The feeling that she was not alone
And her stride did slow
For where fear was courage bestowed
A glow
Of the knowledge
That power
Was hers
Where from who knows
Her stride her own
Not a rabbit's quick pace
Fearing the enemy soon to face
She pulled herself up
Assured she was now
That once bitten
Now smitten
By awareness the glow
She stopped to listen
To silence
For two seconds
Then again struck up her new pace
She was close now
The hand hit her brow
Staggering back
She grabbed inside her bag
Lifting the heel like a dagger
Her eyes met his
Her arm fell to her side
A homeless man scared more than she
I thought you was followin' me
Said he
She
breathed a sigh
That relieved all the feelings of fright
Expelled
Me too
He leans
Placing his hands on his knees
breathes
A relief as well
Does it hurt
I realize blood is on my shirt
But I feel no pain
And express it
He stands
I see
He is crying for me
Tears well
Dripping on his shirt
I extend my hand
Wipe his face
Smile
Say it's okay
And make my way
Home from the train station