A Strange Thing
by Jenny Rolón-Rivas from SEIS, Roosevelt campus
Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong (Available for purchase)
A strange thing happened to me on my way to school. I got up that morning like I normally did, and like always I missed the bus. But as I waited for the next one, it felt like I was waiting for hours. The bus never came. I checked the schedule…8:50 a.m. I looked down at my watch and noticed something wrong. Time slowed down. The big hand on the watch didn’t move, but the little red hand spun like crazy. I thought I was tripping out so I smacked it. It stopped. Now my watch was broken. Damn, I thought. I looked down the road to see for the bus. No sign of it anywhere. I couldn’t wait any longer so I began to walk. As I walked I had this strange feeling. Someone was watching me. I felt a cold chill go down my neck. Out of paranoia, I stopped, and looked around. No one was there. I continued walking. Suddenly a loud rustling sound came from the bushes. I walked faster. The sound followed after me. I ran, ran as fast as my legs could stand. But the sound was still there, as if it were right behind me. I looked over my shoulder, but out of fright I tripped.
I got myself up. That’s when I saw it.