We didn’t mean to end up where we were at that moment in time. I didn’t actively pursue this situation, but we were in it now, and we couldn’t turn away.

My eyes shifted to Theo’s tightened grip around the gun. His focus was nowhere in particular, only the general direction ahead of him. My fingers tapped my pants repeatedly while the tall man spoke. My veins were on fire; I could feel my heart pumping blood through my body faster than adrenaline. My eyes darted around the room, watching everyone listening intently as the loud and assertive sounds escaped the man’s mouth.

A boy, a few years younger than me, walked around with a brown box filled to the top with black. A color I grown to fear, but embrace simultaneously. I took one quickly, not allowing myself to think about my actions. It was becoming more of a habit at this point to just move—not think.

I tightened my grip on the gun, shot the boy, grabbed Theo’s arm and made a run for the door before anyone could react. There was no time to think.