One Breath From Death

Summary

The woman didn't just approach me; she lunged. Before I could even register her presence at the entrance of the coffee shop’s no-smoking zone, her fingers were buried in my hair, wrenching my head back with a violence that sent a jolt of white-hot pain down my spine.

"You sick bitch!" she screamed, her face inches from mine, spittle flying. "What is wrong with you? Look at what you did to my son!"

I was paralyzed, my mind struggling to bridge the gap between my quiet afternoon and this sudden assault.