Perilous Street Crossing

I was 15 years old.

Alone, crossing the street at a busy intersection. Walking on the sidewalk while looking for the bus stop. Suddenly, I feel a car pass by me unbearably close -- I jump out of fear because a voice is yelling in my ear “you fucking gook!" I look to my right and, in that split second, I see the window is rolled down. I see two white faces. I think I see the car pause, I think I see it slow down just enough for the two faces inside to jump out of the car and throw a punch. Then I see nothing. My heart is pounding. I’m constantly looking behind and around me to see if the car is still following me. I find the bus stop, and wait, holding my Metrocard with trembling hands. When I hear the sound of the bus approaching me, I wonder if someone will get off and really do me in this time (nobody does). The rest of the bus ride home, I’m on edge. I don’t know if I will be attacked. I thought I was going to get run over by that car. I thought I was going to get beat up. I thought I was going to die.

This incident occurred in 2015.