At the Right Place at the Right Time

2:20 A.M. An all-night bar is open. The music is blasting through the neighborhood. It’s a place for young people to unwind. Inside the bar, there are crowds of 20 to 30 somethings drinking, talking to one another, and some dancing in small spaces. Some drunks are passed out on the couches. A drunk woman is dancing at a bar. Her dancing is so chaotic some are worried she might fall off and break her neck. One guest signal one bouncer by the door. A few minutes later, a couple of bouncers escorted her down to a booth. She’s cussing at them for interrupting her good time. They urged her if she doesn’t calm down, they’ll escort her outside.

She heads to the girl’s restroom, checks herself in the mirror, her make up is smeared all over her face. She’s too drunk to fix up her face. Instead, she leans against the wall, slides down the floor, and starts bursts out laughing. Her laughter is growing louder until the laughter turns into a mental breakdown. She is crying now. Another woman, pretty, sober assuming, walks in. She notices the drunk woman crying. She slowly walks over and bends down asking what’s wrong. Drunk woman continues to cry out loud. Sober woman keeps asking what is wrong.

Sober woman notices something on the drunk woman’s elbow as she’s covering her face hiding her tears. Her elbow has bruises. Sober woman is unsure whether to ask if the drunk girl was attacked or bumped into a wall at the bar area. The drunk woman keeps repeating to herself she’s a worthless human being. Sober woman doesn’t understand why the drunk woman is saying these negative things. Sober woman helps the drunk woman stand up then notices something else. The drunk woman’s right leg on the back has a big cut between her thigh and knee area.

The sober woman must ask the question if the drunk woman has been raped, or mugged, or beaten by gangs in a dark alley. The drunk woman keeping shaking her head no to all those assumptions. The sober woman takes her to the bathroom mirror and helps with the makeup. They start chatting about makeup, music, and some of the men at the club. The sober woman figured she could ease the drunk woman to be open. The drunk woman starts becoming comfortable talking to this stranger being so kind and caring.

The sober woman starts to question where the drunk woman lives, so that way she can drive her home. However, the drunk woman goes back to tearing. Her makeup is done up and now she’s about to ruin it with her tears again. The sober woman says it’s fine if she doesn’t want to go home, maybe check into a hotel somewhere. The drunk woman lowers her head stating it doesn’t matter where she goes, she can’t get away. The sober woman wonders what that means. Drunk woman admits she’s being abused by her husband. Sober woman takes in this news and offers her to stay with her instead. Maybe tomorrow morning, they can go to the cops and see what they can do.

But the problem is, the drunk woman’s husband is a cop. Who are they going to listen to? Just then, the drunk woman’s phone is ringing in vibration, it’s her husband. He has tracked her phone, he knows she’s at the club, and he’s coming to get her. Sober woman offers again to take the victim to her home for one night abused free. The drunk woman sees all the text messages from her husband demanding where she is, who she’s with, and if she doesn’t come home, he’ll find her no matter what. There’s about 147 of these messages one by one every 15 minutes she’s been out. She only wanted a night by herself without him.

That is why she let loose for once and danced like a fool like there’s no tomorrow. Drunk woman agrees to go with her. The two women sneak out the back alley and walk to the sober’s woman’s car. Just as she drives out, they see a cop car coming to the club. Drunk woman knows it’s her husband and ducks down as they both pass each other. Sober woman is a little scared she’s technically kidnapping someone but it’s not because it was consent. Neither is doing anything illegal. The two are sort of giggling yet terrified. Sober continues driving while the drunk woman takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

She’s feeling sigh of freedom even if it might be one night. She introduces herself as Brenda and the woman helping is named Daneille. Danielle takes Brenda to her home. She lives by herself. Brenda sleeps on her couch with a bucket next to her in case she throws up. Danielle looks at her with sadness. How can someone be so cruel to this person? Let alone an authority figure. What must happen next? Brenda is safe for now because she turns off her phone. Danielle lies down on her bed wondering what she has put herself into. She wants to help but how? Brenda is fast asleep on the couch. Danielle is in her room asleep as well.

The next morning, Danielle wakes up and finds Brenda nowhere to be seen. She’s gone. Danielle is horrified something happened. There’s a knock at the door. It’s a cop named Eddie. He is looking for his wife. Danielle can’t lie, she has no idea where Brenda is. She tells the truth she saw her at the club, and they hung out afterwards, but she left. Eddie leaves. Danielle is a little disappointed yet relieved she technically told the truth. She heads back to her room. Brenda pops out of her closet startling Danielle. Brenda knew he was coming and so she hid when Danielle was at the door talking to Eddie. Something tells Danielle it seems like a running theme for Brenda.