Porch Light

Dusk...

Shadows creep over the town,
engulfing it in darkness.

Random streetlights overhead
mark Main Street's path,
an occasional car
illuminating the street's surface.

Behind a car lot is a trail,
moderately traveled,
one that saves a few minutes
when in a hurry to get home.
Tonight, she was running late...

Crickets sang under night's canvas,
she listened, smiling, as she walked.
Ahead, a distant light marks home.

Tripping over a root
as she quickens her pace,
causing temporary disorientation,
she stops cold ~

Rustles in nearby bushes,
albeit quiet, in night's silence
quite noticeable, stir fears...

Panic courses through her body,
heart racing, palms sweating...
An animal, perhaps?  Hopefully?
Run? Walk? Grab a stick?
Her mind racing, what to do...

Stirring the night, a loud crack ~
a twig snapping under pressure...
Surely no animal weighs so much
as to break a stick under foot...

Long legs and young lungs,
she decides to run the distance home.
Animal, man or Bigfoot,
she'd much rather try outrunning it
than sit around waiting to be attacked.

Taking many breaths, she bolts ~
face forward, no turning,
home's porch light the goal
in the sprint of her life...

Behind her more noise, snapping twigs...
Run, girl! Don't look back, move!

Rounding the bend, heart in her throat,
feet lose traction in gravel...
Sliding hands forward to brace herself,
she steadies against a wall.

Catching her breath, she turns slightly,
wondering if her pursuer still followed.
Sensing nothing, yet still scared,
she turns to run again ~

A shadow appears,
a silhouette against street lights...
Startled, she opens her mouth to scream,
only to be silenced by a hand
over her mouth...

Think, girl! Now or never, live or die!

Turning against her attacker,
she knees him sharply between his legs ~
dropping him to the street, groaning.

Standing over him, she kicks,
ribs, legs, arms, head ~ wherever ~
yelling, causing neighbors to look out.
Adrenalin pumping, she continues,
lowering down to hit his face...

She stops when she hears her name ~
not from her mom or a neighbor,
but from the pile of shadow at her feet.

Her boyfriend wanted to scare her,
thinking it would be fun ~
he was now slumped, grovelling...

Lesson to be learned:
boyfriend or not,
don't be messin' with no redneck girl ~
she's bound to kick the snot out of you.