I dug my hands deeper into my pockets pushing out the denim creases that always hid it from me. My tongue ran over my lip unconsiously as I began to perspire… it was gone. I checked my breast pocket in haste, but to no avail. I looked at the other riders on the subway with me and began making assumptions at the poorer people standing around me.

The subway stopped and I saw him flip it into the air as he strode from the car. My eyes narrowed and I pushed my way after him. Through the large crowd of people between the two of us, I watched him take long strides up the stairs made damp from the rain tracked in by the thousands of people. My short legs pumped me up after him and I watched my step as I didnt want to slip in my heels.

The rain was pouring like a headless shower and my clothing stuck to me like a prepared spagetti noodle, as I stepped out into the beehive of activity, just in time to see him duck into an alleyway. I hurried across the road, thankful the crosswalk was still flashing green and darted out of the flood into the cover of tall close buildings that provided my shelter.

I pulled my coat closed and shrugged off a shudder caused by the last of the rain running down my spine. I looked down the dark passage to the opposite side and let out a sigh. He was gone. Yet my curiosity drove me on, hoping he would be on the opposite side.

I was only halfway when I heard the gunshot and felt my chest tear open. A wave of nausea came before the pain began to radiate from the hole that was taking my life.

As I looked up at the man running out of the alleyway one last thought crossed my mind…

He stole from me twice…