“The Door”

Tonight, I sat in the rocker,
Watching Battlestar Galactica
On the Tivo because I worked
Serving sushi when it aired.

My sisters big black cat Jasmine
Lay down on my lap, and I
Ran my hand gently down her back,
Absently.

But she suddenly sat, then stood,
Staring off to my left. Then
I heard it.

The sound was faint, vaguely high pitched
And very, very small. As I listened,
The alert cat standing stiffly on my lap,
The sound grew. When I recognized it, I
Leapt to my feet,
Just after the cat left my lap.

First thing, I ran to the door.
On the way, I considered opening it
To see what waited on the other side,
But I decided it was too dangerous.
I could look out from my window.
So instead,
I turned the lock.

Only then, safe at last, did I run to
My window to peek discretely
Through a barely lifted blind.
But outside,
And the tree in front of my window.

But I could still hear it. From the
Safety of my bedroom, I could hear
A woman screaming.

I thought rapidly, should I call the police? But
What would I say? Maybe its something dangerous,
Maybe, or maybe she’s upset with her boyfriend.
I couldn’t see; I didn’t know.
I wanted to call my boyfriend because
He always makes me feel safe, but
Her couldn’t help. Not this time. Not her.

The screaming grew faint, somewhere to my right,
And I realize how badly I am shaking,
Chattering like a frozen child in a snowstorm.
I realize how much the scream frightened me,
Safe as I was behind a locked door and the
Black window curtains and white blinds of my room.

And all I can think is: I
Heard a woman screaming in the street
And locked the door.