No Place To Hide
The terrified woman ran for her life. She dared not look back. “Baxter! Come on boy!” she screamed; she could only hear her dog panting beside her.
She sped through the night. She didn’t know where she was running to. There was no shortcut or hideout. The angry voices could still be heard behind her. They were after her.
New Start
Sandy had always dreamt of being a nurse. So, when she got the job offer from the hospital in Brooklyn, she was over the moon. She was excited about her new career.
However, her excitement was short-lived when she realized that the New York neighborhood she had moved into was not safe. There were constant fights and shootings, and she never felt at ease.
A Furry Friend
One day, while walking back from the hospital, she saw a dog wandering around. The dog looked lost and scared, so Sandy approached him slowly. She always had a way with animals.
It was a German Shepard with a big scar on his face. Sandy tried to pet him, and to her surprise, he wagged his tail and licked her hand. She fell in love with him immediately.
I’m Taking Him Home
She decided to adopt him and named him Baxter. Baxter was very protective of Sandy and would never let anyone get too close to her. She put up lost posters for him but nobody called.
They became inseparable, and Sandy would take him on long walks and to the park. Baxter was always by her side, and Sandy finally felt safe in the neighborhood.
Urgent Errands
One night, Sandy needed to go to the ATM to withdraw some cash. She knew she had to be careful as there were always unsavory characters hanging around the corner.
Other neighbors reported their bad behavior but they always ran away before the police could arrive. They would catcall and make mischief with customers, and she didn't want any trouble.
No Other Option
Sandy had always known that living in Brooklyn wasn't the safest place, but she had no other option. It was a place she called home, and she wasn't planning on moving anytime soon.
She walked past the group of hoodlums that hung out at the corner, making trouble for the customers. They whistled at her, but she ignored them and continued on her way.
Strange People
As she approached the ATM, a tall, scary man who looked like the leader of the group approached her. Baxter started growling, and Sandy could feel her heart beating faster.
What did the man want from her? She was scared and thought he wanted to rob her. She froze, thinking about what to do next.
Too Close For Comfort
As she stood at the ATM, she noticed the group of hoodlums in the corner, cat-calling and making mischief as their leader approached. What stunt were they trying to pull?
Sandy tried her best to ignore them and focused on her task, but the tall man who looked like the leader was smiling at her. Sandy could feel her heart racing as the man walked closer to her. What should she do?
In My Face
Sandy needed to go to the ATM for cash for her bills, she had to do this now. She knew it wasn't safe, but she had no other choice. As she used the machine, the group of hoodlums continued to make mischief as usual.
But this time, the tall man who looked like the leader approached her and stood right next to her. Baxter started growling loudly. She was scared and wanted to run.
Up To Something
The scary leader walked right next to Sandy and said, “’ Ya done darling?” The man was polite and said he wanted to use the ATM too. “How’s about a few dollars for your neighbor?” He asked her for some money, and Sandy didn't know what to do. Suddenly, Baxter started growling and inching toward the man, and he backed off.
Baxter was still growling, and she could see the man getting agitated. Suddenly, Baxter lunged at the man, and he fell to the ground. She had to pull Baxter on his leash to keep him down. Sandy was shocked but relieved that Baxter had protected her.
Quick Thinking
Sandy didn't trust him and quickly hurried away. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right, and she knew she needed to be careful from now on.
The man quickly got up and ran away, and Sandy hugged Baxter, grateful for his protection. She realized that she had made the right decision in adopting him. Baxter had become more than just a pet; he was her protector and best friend.
A Thoroughbred Champ
The next day, Sandy decided to take Baxter to the vet to get him checked out. The vet confirmed that Baxter had been a police dog, he was chipped. He had retired due to the injury on his face. Sandy was amazed and proud of her dog, knowing that he had been trained to protect and serve.
From that day on, Sandy and Baxter were even closer. They would play interactive games together, and Baxter would always be by her side. Sandy knew that living in Brooklyn would never be easy, but she felt more confident with Baxter by her side.
I Remember You
As luck would have it, the worst was not yet over for Sandy. A few days later, the same man stopped her on her way to the shops. He acted like he knew her and tried to grab her arm.
Baxter went wild and attacked him, biting his leg and causing it to bleed. The man ran away, and Sandy was left shaken and scared.
Tough For Females
Sandy had always lived in a dodgy area of Brooklyn, New York. She knew the neighborhood like the back of her hand, and she had learned to be cautious and aware of her surroundings at all times.
But now she was being personally singled out and attacked. The worried woman didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t move house again.
Extra Precautions
From that night on, Sandy was afraid to leave her house. She tried her best to avoid going out, only leaving if it was absolutely necessary. She even started to experience depression and anxiety, which made it even harder for her to leave the house.
She knew she had to report the incident to the police, so she did. They were on the lookout for the man and his gang, and they promised to do everything in their power to keep her safe.
They Are There
Days turned into weeks, and Sandy slowly started to forget about the incident. But one day, as she was walking home from work, she saw the same man again. He was with his gang, and they were approaching her fast.
Baxter started growling, and Sandy knew she had to act fast. These were real gangsters and they were not afraid to terrorize their turf.
Smart Gangsters
She pulled out her phone and dialed 911. She could hear the sirens in the distance. But unfortunately, the gang could hear them too and they disappeared into the streets.
The police were too late. Sandy couldn't believe it. She was relieved that they were gone, but she was still scared. The gang was still somewhere out there.
Targeted
As the weeks went by, Sandy became more and more paranoid. She was constantly looking over her shoulder, afraid that someone was following her.
She knew that she needed to move out of Brooklyn, but she didn't have the money to do so. She was stressed and it was affecting her serious nursing job and her colleagues were concerned about her.
Fighting Back
One day, as she was walking home from work, she saw a flier for a self-defense class. She knew that this was exactly what she needed. She signed up for the class, and over the next few months, she learned how to defend herself.
She pictured the gang leader's ugly face every time she punched the training dummy, it was helping her find courage.
Courage And Cowardice
Sandy was a changed woman. She was no longer afraid of walking alone at night, and she knew that she could protect herself if anything ever happened again.
But she saw something that night that made her realize that she still wasn’t safe at all. On her walk home, she saw the gang, harassing another young woman. Sandy screamed at them to stop and then ran off into the night. She didn’t want to get involved.
Something More
Sandy felt like a coward. She couldn’t protect that lady. She decided that she couldn't live like this anymore. She knew she had to face her fears and find a way to move away from the dangerous neighborhood.
She started saving every penny she had and even took on extra shifts at work. She was determined to make something more of her life.
Doing It For Myself
Finally, after months of hard work and determination, Sandy had enough money to move out of the dodgy area. She found a beautiful apartment in a safer neighborhood near the upper east side and managed to get transferred to another branch of the hospital.
She said goodbye to her old life, and packed up her belongings. As she drove away from her old apartment for the last time, she felt a weight lifted off her shoulders.
Changed Person
Sandy settled into her new home and started to enjoy her new surroundings. She met her new neighbors, who were friendly and welcoming, and even started going out more often.
Baxter, her faithful dog, was also enjoying his new surroundings, and the two of them would often go on long walks in the park. Her new home was much better and she felt it was her reward for all the trauma he had been through.
Inner Trauma
Despite the new beginnings, Sandy couldn't shake off the feeling of fear and anxiety that had plagued her since that night at the ATM. She lived a very calm and routine life but it wasn’t enough to change the pain inside.
She decided to seek professional help and started seeing a therapist who helped her work through her trauma. The lonely lady was still working through some deep emotions.
Constant Improvements
Over time, Sandy started to feel like herself again. She no longer had panic attacks when she went outside, and she even started to feel hopeful about the future.
She found a new hobby that she loved in DIY crafts and started to build a new life for herself. Her mind started to become free. But sometimes she would still have flashbacks of her mugging.
Socially Active
Sandy tried to make new friends at the dog park down her street. Baxter was a hit with many other dog lovers. She was adjusted to her new nursing job and a new life, but she would never forget the lessons she had learned in Brooklyn.
Sandy had learned that she was stronger than she ever thought possible. She had learned to trust her instincts and to always be aware of her surroundings. She had learned that she could survive anything, as long as she had the courage to stand up for herself.
It Is What It Is
As she walked down the street with Baxter by her side, Sandy knew that she was ready for whatever life had in store for her. She was no longer the scared woman she had once been, but a strong and independent woman who was ready to face anything that came her way.
She was optimistic. But the brave woman didn’t know that her troubles were not over yet.
Old Memories
One day, Sandy received a letter that some of her mail was sent to her old address in Brooklyn. It was some important documents about her nursing degree. She had to go back to her dodgy neighborhood to visit her old apartment.
Sandy breathed a sigh of frustration; she wasn’t ready to return. But this was important, she had to go back. She was filled with anxiety.
FlashBacks
Sandy made arrangements to travel. As she walked down the street, memories flooded back to her, and she remembered how scared and alone she had felt. She tried to keep her wits about her.
But as she turned a corner, she saw something that made her heart swell with pride. The group of hoodlums that had made her life a living hell were no longer there. In their place was a community garden, filled with flowers and vegetables, and children playing and laughing.
Pesky Paranoia
Her heart was pounding hard in her chest. She kept imagining the gangsters sitting on the corner as they used to. She was scared for nothing this time.
Sandy realized that even though she had left that neighborhood, change was still possible. She smiled to herself, feeling grateful for her new life, and walked away from her old neighborhood, feeling hopeful for the future.