Grace was walking home.
Her bag hung heavy at her side. The street was busy. Cars moved fast.
She did not notice the black sedan at first. It slid past her like a shadow. The wind hit her face. Then the window rolled down.
A man leaned out. He held a gun.
Grace froze.
For a second the world felt very small and very loud. She saw the barrel. Her brain made the slow, terrible decision to move. Her feet did not obey.
The first shot hit her stomach. Hot pain spread under her skin.
A second shot hit the left side of her chest, close to her heart. The pain was sharp and bright. Her knees went weak. Her breath left in a small sound.
She tried to scream. Her voice came out thin and small.
People around screamed. A man in a blue shirt dropped his bag and ran to her.
He cradled her head. Blood darkened her shirt. The world tilted.
She felt everything at once. Cold on her palms. Heat on her face.
