The teahouse we wanted to go to was closed.
We went to an old stand by instead.
We sat at the same table in the same corner of the upstairs room we always sit in.
We ordered the same food.
It came.
We went to an old stand by instead.
We sat at the same table in the same corner of the upstairs room we always sit in.
We ordered the same food.
It came.
*****************************************************
I didn't recognize her because she came up the stairs too quickly and too quickly began to beat and get beaten by another girl. Screams were heard and hair fell to the floor in clumps. When the blood began to run I felt myself get dizzy. We couldn't leave because we were trapped in our same corner. The fighting escalated, blood spattered the walls and pooled on the floor, two men bounded up the narrow stairs to join the fray.
I didn't recognize her because her face was covered in pouring blood and she was dodging tables being thrown and getting kicked in the stomach. The sound of body meeting body and bones crunching and slaps and stools hitting faces made my stomach swim and my eyes drip with tears. We stood shaking in our same corner, food long forgotten, the narrow stairs too far away.
I didn't recognize her until other people arrived and made a get away path for us to the stairs and she turned her bloody, deep red face and stained clothing to me and said, "Oh Ms. Kelly, don't be afraid."
I nearly fainted. My student.
*****************************************************
We clasped shaky hands as we stumbled out of the teahouse.
We were nearly hug tackled by the beggar children outside.
We turned our pale faces and sick hearts to each other.
We went to my house.
We drank a sip of water.
I prayed: Prince of Peace... come quickly.
