Volume 1, Issue 6: Rescued

Selma was studying at the university library for her first exam in her victimology class. The class was really stressing her out. It was close to midnight and she had been here since she had left work at 7pm. Her stomach was rumbling. She hadn’t eaten all day. She took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat for a moment to clear her head. She needed to take a break before her brain collapsed. She locked up her books and laptop in her carrel and stepped outside with her cell phone.

Birdie picked up after three rings.

“Did I wake you?” Selma asked cautiously.

“Uh durrrr. It is almost midnight and I work at 6:30 in the A.M.” Birdie reminded her.

“I miss him,” Selma said, ignoring Birdie’s obvious annoyance.

Selma and Hassan had just broken up the day before. Hassan had dumped her because she refused to convert to Islam.

“We’ve been over this so many times. You know you can do better. You deserve someone who loves you; someone who respects you,” Birdie said.

“Ugh, I know. You know me better than anyone Birdie. You know I don’t like being alone but at the same time I’m afraid of commitment. Maybe I just screwed up with this one too. Do you wanna grab a beer? Let’s grab a beer. I need to de-stress.”

“A beer after midnight the night before your big victimology class? Not a good idea, Selma. Goodnight,” Birdie said hanging up the phone.

Selma sighed. She decided she’d go out for a drink by herself. After gathering up her things from inside the library she walked down to O’Reilly’s, the Irish bar that Ian’s parents owned. The bar was busy for a Tuesday night.

She scanned the room quickly, looking to see if there was anyone there that she knew and spotted Blake tucked away in a corner with a group of people. He caught her eye and waved her over.

Just then the fire alarms went off in the bar. A brief silence acted as a prelude to panic when all the drunk twenty something’s, rushed towards the exits—right where Selma was standing. Like a deer caught in headlights she froze as people crowded around her pushing towards the door. She tried to move to turn around but people surrounded her on all sides. Selma lost her balance and fell to the floor. She panicked—she was about to be trampled on. Someone stepped on her ankle and she heard a crack as a sharp pain ran up her leg. Selma screamed loudly, angry that drunk people were so inconsiderate and senseless.

She suddenly felt her body being lifted off the ground. Blake had picked her up off the floor as he followed the crowd outside.