Car locked, I walk through the garage. Ignoring shouts, I scroll his profile for conversation starters. Nervous. Eager. I don’t glance from the screen until I get to the stairs and look down into the barrel of a handgun. Follow the gun to the arms to the police vest to eyes belonging to a cop I clearly spooked. Shriek. Run. Voices below. “Put the gun down!” At the far staircase, another officer, gun drawn, stands guard. “I’ve got a date,” I jibber. He smirks. “Go ahead, it’s clear.” I run down and out, no longer nervous, plenty to talk about.
Betsy Ellor is still with that date. When not on her phone she writes, hikes, and hunts curiosities. Her third book, Hera, comes out soon. Betsy is a Five Minutes Founding Contributor.