Several years ago, my close friend worked in the very same factory that is highlighted by this picture. I specifically remember laughing at the graffiti when I arrived to pick her up from work. As I arrived at the usual time of 8:30pm, noticed something strange happening. A crowd of seamstresses were standing outside and there were police cars all over. I immediately noticed that the group of women were crying and the paramedics were trying to calm them down. I wondered about the source of all this commotion. Regardless, it upset me because I wanted to get home ASAP to catch the beginning of my favorite show, American Idol. I pulled out my phone and sent my friend a text message. "Hey. I'm outside," I typed as I found a parking spot across the street. As I waited for a response, I decided to itch my curiosity. So I opened the door of my old Ford Escort and started walking across the street. Still frustrated that I would miss my show, I grumbled a few unpleasant words as I got to the building. Little did I know, the following events would drastically change my life forever. In retrospect, I was naive to worry about trivial matters.

As I approached the police officer to inquiry about the situation, a thunderous sound slapped the fragile membrane of my eardrum. "What the fuck was that," I shouted as the crowd of people dropped to the floor. Suddenly, another bang! And then another. The situation happened in slow-motion as I attempted to register the events playing before my eyes. The police officers reached for their gun and started screaming a series of inaudible commands. I couldn't decipher their words. Regardless, I mimicked the actions of the crowd and dropped to a desperate prone position whiling covering my ears. I specifically remember identifying the fearful face of the woman lying next to me. I will never forget the simple terror that was bombarding the neurons in her brain. I looked around and saw 4 men in the street near my parked car. They were wearing black and covered their faces with a black bandana. What the hell is going on?

The gunfire continued. I felt a frigid bind down the center of my spine that I still clearly remember today. It is the same feeling in the nightmares that have plagued my dreams. I watched as the bullets penetrated the vulnerable body of the police officer next to me. As he dropped to the floor, I distinctively recall seeing the exit wound of red splatter behind his descending head. I closed my eyes. I could hear the thumping of my heart as if it were anatomically positioned next to my ears. "What the hell is happening," I wondered again.

One of the gunmen grabbed me by my blouse and demanded that I stand up.

"Get the fuck up or I will fucking blast your head off," he screamed as he forcefully moved my body vertically. He shot his arms across my neck and positioned my face towards the building. I could barely breathe as the strength of his muscular grip choked my airway. We moved towards the building. He raises his semi-automatic machine gun and opens fire into the crowd of innocent souls. I helplessly watched as he murdered two dozen people in front of my face.

"Mike! Grab this bitch and throw her in the van," he demanded as he pushed me towards his associate. Mike clinched my arm and shoves me into their van. As I knelled against the metal floor, I heard the sudden bursts of guns. Each bullet continued to jolt my body as if I were being electrocuted. I could feel the pain that these innocent individuals were enduring. I can't believe this is happening.

I looked around the van and was struck with an epiphany. They left a shotgun in the van. I jumped towards the opportunity and grabbed the gun. "Two rounds in the barrel," I whispered. At this point, a sudden rush of confidence flowed through my cardiovascular system. I armed the gun and opened the door of the van.

Where did they go? They must have walked inside. I ran towards the building as fast as my legs would carry me while simultaneously avoiding the bodies that laid before me. As I ran through the crowd, I distinctively remember stepping on the hand of a fallen girl. The feeling of her soft flesh underneath the rigid soles of my shoes is a feeling that will clearly plague my memory for the rest of my life. As I stood in front of the glass door. I noticed the men standing inside discussing something. I knew I only had 2 rounds to kill 4 men. The odds weren't great, but I instinctively had to do something. I had to stop them. As I stood with my back against the door, I took one final breath of air.

I rushed in and immediately shot into the crowd. They fall. I cocked the shotgun and released another frenzy of dispersing shreds of metal. A burst of overzealous satisfaction flowed through me as I watched the vindictive bullets enter their bodies. I killed them.

I dropped the shotgun and walked outside. As I exited the door, a series of police cars hurdled into the parking lot. I slowly walked towards them as they grabbed me and forced me towards the car. I couldn't believe what was happening.