He closes in slowly, gently eyeing her as she sways, and though I know he’s lonely, I can’t help but think: Predator and prey. His approach is in silence, not that she’d hear him anyway, over the music blaring sex and violence in a romantic way.
He speaks a word, or maybe two, I can’t hear him from where I am. She smiles politely and her laughter rings true. If only she could see him from where I stand. He whispers softly and buys her a drink, she flirts and unconsciously flaunts. If only she had the time to think about the horrible things that he wants.
I clutch my drink and glance at my friend, and ask him if he sees what I see. He says nothing and nods to amend, that we should wait to see what will be. He whispers once more and she grins with flair. They move to the door and outside to the night air. My friend looks at me and slowly I nod, the way that man moved was just way too damn odd.
We step out the door and breathe in the night, glancing around to make what’s wrong right. From the alley nearby we can hear her soft cries, as he tears at her clothes and tells sweet, stinging lies.
My friend he moves first as I move behind, all thoughts of danger at the backs of our minds. The man isn’t small, but my poor friend is, and while he acts tall, he can’t match to his. My friend goes down hard, a punch to the jaw, but I am right there to keep him out of death’s maw. We do not fight long, he stands not a chance, for I am too practiced in the art of fight’s dance.
The police show up later and arrest him outright, as the poor girl sits crying, staring out in the night. She doesn’t know why, he didn’t get far, but for reasons unknown her soul he did mar. She thanks us profusely and the cops drive her home, as we sit in wonder beside the payphone.
We’ve done a good deed, chivalrous and brave, but why do we feel like we were the knave?