ANTOINETTE BOYD - A NIGHT IN CHICAGO

Antoinette Boyd is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She is currently a student at Full Sail University majoring in Creative Writing. The overarching goal is to become a scriptwriter for major media companies. Antoinette has a love for dance and shows that through holding many positions in the field. She is a co-director of her church’s praise dance ministry, a coach for a local dance team, as well as becoming a Zumba instructor thus going hand in hand with her passion for both dance and people. She currently has a published journal titled, 30 Days of Gratitude, which focuses on retraining your mind to find the beauty in your everyday life. One of the main goals she strives for is bringing awareness to mental health in communities that lack the ability and opportunity to develop an understanding on the topic. 

​A Night in Chicago

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As Jenn puts her cigarette out, she mumbles, 
“I can’t believe this girl. She knows I have a test to take in the morning and she wants to be out all night.” Jenn starts to walk in the door, but she’s distracted by a woman screaming. As soon as she turns around, she hears a gunshot. Running towards the other side of the street, she pulls her cell phone out and proceeds to dial 911. 
“OMG, this cannot be happening right now.” 
“911, what’s your emergency?” The 911 operator asked.
“I have a lady that was shot and she’s on the ground and she’s bleeding out of her stomach!” Jenn yells. 
“What’s your name?” 
“Mine or the girls?”
The 911 operator is calmly speaking with Jenn, but she is still panicking from what is in front of her. The 911 operator asks again, except she specifies, “what is your name?” 
“My name is Jenn, and I don’t know this lady that’s on the ground. I was on my way back inside the bar to get my friend when I heard her scream and then I heard a gunshot.” 
“Did you see the shooter?” 
“No, I just saw the lady on the ground. I don’t know which way the gunshot came from.” 
“Ok, this is what I want you to do. I’ve located you to the nearest cell tower from your phone. Are you near 44th avenue?” 
“I’m right on the corner of 44th. We’re across from Jay’s Bar and Lounge” 
“Ok, police are on the way. Do you have a jacket on?” The 911 operator asked.
“Not really, just a blazer.” 
“Okay, I need you to take it off and put pressure on the lady’s gun-shot wound.” 
Jenn is pissed and still in disbelief. She takes her blazer and puts it on the lady’s stomach. “You are not going to die, you hear me?” Jenn finally hears police and ambulance sirens. The lady on the ground isn’t responding to Jenn and now she’s afraid she lost her. 
Two paramedics get out of the ambulance and proceed to care for the lady on the ground. 
“Ma’am, we’ve got it from here.” 
Jenn asks the police, “is she going to be ok?” 
“Do you know her?”
“No, I just heard the gunshot and saw her on the ground. I’m not sure why it happened or what took place before it happened. I just ran and called 911. I really hope she’s going to be okay.” 
The paramedics don’t feel a pulse and rush her on the stretcher to try and get her to the hospital. They put her in the back of the ambulance and proceeds to do chest compressions. “Clear!” “I still don’t have a pulse.” “One, Two, Three, clear!” Still nothing.
As the paramedics pronounce the young lady’s time of death, the police officer pulls out his card,” if you hear anything about what happened, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Jenn is numb. She takes the card and proceeds to walk across the street. She goes back into the bar and walks straight to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror she bursts into tears. She washes her hands off and splashes some cold water onto her face. 

The bathroom door swings open, “I was calling your name, this guy I met wants to buy us some drinks let’s go. Now! Jenn, why are you looking like that? I know you have a test in the morning I promise you won’t be out all night. Just one drink is all I’m asking.” Asked Sammie.
They walk out of the bathroom and have one drink. “Sammie, I am super tired, can we just leave?” “Yea that’s cool I’m ready whenever you are. I’ll order an Uber” 20 minutes later the Uber pulls up and Sammie notices the crime scene outside. “It is always something going on in Chicago.” 
Jenn and Sammie get home and Jenn dives straight into the bed. She wakes up the next morning only to check her email and see that her professor has cancelled canceled class for the morning because her daughter was shot and killed last night. Jenn replies to her professors’ email, Mrs. Taylor, I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the pain and emptiness you are feeling right now. Please accept my condolences as you go through this rough time.