Bethany was no stranger to a dark night. After playing with Loraina and no ride home from either of their moms, Bethany found it customary to walk home alone. For this 11 year old, this was normal. The route was the same each time: left on Jefferson Ave. and a few blocks down to take a left on Adams Blvd. On the corner down two blocks was Loraina’s house. On Jefferson, there was the two-storied apartment complex on her right as Bethany walked on the sidewalk across the street on the north side. Once she arrived at Adams, she took a left and walked down the hill two blocks, where her house was on the corner. The journey was close, pleasantly close. Bethany’s and Loraina’s mothers deemed it appropriate for the two girls to travel between the two homes. The neighborhood was welcoming enough that allowed this sort of behavior for 11-year-old girls.

The May season brought humid air into the neighborhood, even at night. The cicadas migrated and were loud guests. Bethany turned onto Jefferson after playing at Loraina’s house. Out ahead there was a large car with a big trunk. It was parked in front of the apartment complex with the lights off and the engine running. When Bethany reached the apartment complex, a loud gunshot rang out in a second-floor apartment. She saw the flash and the noise added concrete to her shoes. A few moments later, a big man ran out the side door and dove into the waiting car. It drove off. Bethany never saw an adult run before. She always thought kids ran around and the parents just watched.

Afraid, Bethany ran down Jefferson and turned the corner onto Adams. She found her house and opened the door with her key given to her by her mom. She ran into her room and closed the door, jumping into her bed with all her clothes on. Bethany flung her shoes off so her mom wouldn’t yell at her. While she lay in her bed, her conception of her neighborhood changed. Whatever happened in that apartment was bad. Whoever that man who ran into the car, was bad.

Everything seemed bad and her entire life she thought only good things happened in her neighborhood. She could play with Loraina and sell lemonade on the street. Together, they rode bikes around the block. Her mom wasn’t worried about the neighborhood and Loraina’s mom wasn’t worried about the neighborhood either. It was safe. When Bethany’s mom was home, she would leave the door open all day. She could run outside and play around, and come back inside. Her mom would yell at her for bringing in dirt, but that was the worst thing that ever happened.

All night, Bethany was afraid. When she heard her mom come into the house she put the covers over her head, thinking it was the bad man on Jefferson. Her door opened and Mom entered with a caring touch on Bethany’s cheek. A kiss to say goodnight. Bethany fell asleep with ease, but woke the next morning from a horrible nightmare. Everything around her was loud and bright. Dark shadows were everywhere. They were about to touch her just as she woke up.

School felt different. Reading in English lost its appeal. The science experiment with the frogs everyone anticipated wasn’t engaging. Math was far worse. P.E. was a welcome break. Bethany could move around and expend some energy. Lunch was dull with Loraina, Audrey, and Stephanie all talking about their boy crushes. History was a blur. In computer class, Bethany checked the local news and found information on the murder. No suspects. Those men last night were still out there, free. During choir, all she could think about was that night.

Finally at home, Bethany ate a snack and Loraina called asking if she wanted to come over. Bethany wanted Loraina to come over to her house instead. She was too afraid of walking down Jefferson.

Five minutes past and Loraina entered through the back door. They turned on the TV and a reality show was on. They experimented with Bethany’s mom’s nail polish. Each girls’ nail was painted a different color. For a time, Loraina kept talking about her crush on Turner, a boy in her math class. Loraina went on about his hair, his clothes, and his smile in excruciating detail. Bethany’s mind went elsewhere, thinking her good friend would never stop talking. Bethany told Loraina, without provocation, to be quiet and she was tired of hearing her speak. Loraina was offended and made fun of Bethany for not having a crush on a boy. Loraina called her silly and joked how no boy will like her.

Bethany remembered the man running out of the apartment and how his left hand was clinched. Smaller details now came to light for her. Details she yet recognized. Bethany stood up and punched Loraina in the jaw. Loraina looked up at Bethany, shocked. The tears and sobbing arrived only moments after. Loraina swiftly ran out the back door in pain and headed home.

At dinner, Bethany’s mom confronted her about the altercation with Loraina. Loraina’s mom called earlier and informed her of the situation and sought to settle things amicably between the two girls since they were such good friends. Seeing this out of character, Bethany’s mom asked Bethany why she punched Loraina. As Bethany ate her peas, she remained silent. Bethany’s mom pressed a little harder to demand an answer. Punching someone did not solve your problems, she told her. Bethany broke down and cried, and ran over to her mother for comfort. She told her about what she saw last night. Piecing it together, Bethany’s mom checked the news herself and discovered what happened just down the street from her home. As a parent who worked, she surprised herself she didn’t do a better job of keeping her only daughter safe.

Bethany was the only witness to the previous night’s incident and Bethany’s mom pressed her for as much information as she can. She cried as she spoke. She had to relive the night to share the details.

A89 5321 was the license plate number to the brown and black Cadillac. It was registered to Tobias Washington out in Hyde Heights, an unfriendly neighborhood. That night, Tobias and his accomplice Jasper were arrested for murder while Bethany apologized to Loraina.