My heartbeat and my breaths are not in sync; one seems to want to explode from my chest, while the other is barely deep enough to fill my lungs. The hairs stand tall on the back of my neck and arms, and the goosebumps running up my forearms could easily be mistaken for mountain ranges.

Beads of sweat form on my forehead; just one or two to begin with, but quickly they come more regularly until they resemble a light rainfall before my face.

My fists clench, my teeth grind together, and my body tenses; tighter… tighter. My time is coming.

I scan from left to right; in front and behind. I spin on my feet, searching for the eyes I know are watching me.

The world carries on as normal. The passers-by continue to pass by, unaware of my discomfort, ignorant to my private hell.

I look up, to the rooftops, where the skyline blurs into sunlight. I shield my eyes, until, there, above the billboard, a glint of light. The sun reflecting in a small window. No, not a window… smaller. The telescopic sights of a gun.

A crack… then…