the pig shouted as he clutched his stomach and scooted away like a coward. My knight’s face contorted, making him look like a monster under the
streetlight. I should have been scared with the anger that radiated in his
eyes, but I felt a sense of calm take over me. I couldn’t explain it, but this
man wasn’t like my dad. He wasn’t like the pigs who came into the bar
every night.
My knight walked over to the pig, bent down, and spit on his face. “You don’t scare me. You are nothing more than a piece of shit coward.
You aren’t a man. You’re a fucking animal pretending to be one. Get the
fuck out of here before I actually kill you,” he shouted and then walked
away as if the man limping away was nothing but garbage.
He then turned to look at me, his eyes shrouded with concern. I
recognized that look well. It was the look of strangers as they passed my
mother in the street and got a glimpse of her battered face. The look of
sympathy and pity. Well, I didn’t want pity. I was nothing like my mother. I
was strong. I fought.
“You okay?” he asked as he offered me his hand. He was trying to help
me up, but I didn’t want his help.
“I’m fine,” I said as I got myself up, ignoring his hand. No one in life
had ever helped me before without wanting anything. This man may have made me not fear him like I did most, but he was also a man, and they
usually had ulterior motives.
“Are you some kind of pervert or something?” The words got blurted
out before I could even hold them back.
He cocked his head to the side and smiled. I couldn’t help but think that
his smile was beautiful. It lit up his whole face and made it softer, kinder. “No. I just was worried. Guys like Josh are bullies. I knew he would
need to unleash his shame for his lack of manhood somewhere. I just sat in
my car to make sure the fucker couldn’t get away with anything. I’m glad I
stayed.”
I started walking to my car. He followed, and I let him. I didn’t want to
admit it, but the whole situation had startled me, and at least Iknew this guy
wasn’t going to hit me or rape me.
“This is a lot of work for a phone number,” I joked. I always made jokes
