Eyes clenched shut—I still see.
Pavement falling behind me,
Searching the dark for him—
Wishing I’d spent time in the gym.
Sprinting past alleys—breathless.

I feel him closing the gap,
Realizing it was all a trap—
From asking to meet,
To the dead-end street.
Terror seizes my heart—breathless.

Thrown on the ground—
No help to be found.
Restrained by his dense frame—
Now wearing only shame.
His weight crushing—breathless.

Bruised and bleeding on cold concrete,
Motionless and numb, I lay in defeat;
One questions reverberates in my mind—
How could I be so blind?
Drowning in guilt and grief—breathless.

Heart and pulse racing, I open my eyes—
Breathing deep, I maintain a calm guise.
Silent eyes watchful as I take the stand,
On the events of that night I expand;
Finishing my account, I stand­—breathless.

For hours, we wait for the verdict,
Praying the jury will convict.
Walking out into the daylight,
Free at last from that cursed night;
The weight lifts from my chest—I breathe.

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