Held at Gun Point - JUNE 26 2013

June 26, 2013

While I feel that this topic is a very sensitive subject and I am not quite sure what the repercussions of the event may be, I feel that I must share this story now while the emotion is fresh and new. I want people to know every detail.

Last night was not like any other experience I have ever had. EVER. It started out like any normal evening I would have had. I went on a walk to talk with the man that has been in my life. No big deal. It was normal. We went on walks all the time. We were downtown Nashville, seconds away from his house. At one point, we had decided to take a seat on some steps nearby. And this is where the story of a normal evening changes…

As we were sitting on the steps, in the middle of me actually crying like a baby, going over what’s important in my life—the feelings I felt for him, this young boy walked up to us. Blue plaid hoodie on and pulled out a gun. He kept saying “MONEY” over and over. While my sweet man pulled out his wallet, both him and I were pleading, please, we don’t have any cash, pleading him, we had nothing. We kept asking, what do you want, we will do anything. My sweet man was saying, we can take you to get cash, an ATM? The ignorant boy agreed, and we proceeded to walk with a gun behind our backs for the next 4 or 5 blocks.

People walked by, cars drove by—even security guards were not far away—but nobody noticed.

I was holding on tighter to my sweet man than I ever had. Thinking about the gun in our backs, if he shot me, would it hurt? If he shot him, what would I do? Would I scream? How in the world did we make it out of walking the dark streets of Nashville by ourselves and not have this happen before? There were no tears between either of us, but I felt the panic and absolute desperation of possibly losing my life—or even worse, my sweet man’s. I was wishing so badly in that moment for the ability to communicate with him, with no words. I was mouthing the word “help” to the cars that passed, knowing they would not notice being so dark. This entire event happened at only 9:30 at night. Not even late.

We were led into the business street, where I knew public places would be. I was thinking in my head, oh, we’ll just run into an open business and hide and call the police. The stupid boy didn’t seem to know what to do next. He came to a back alley behind all the places I was planning on running into. He asked us to turn down the alley. And that is when I knew he was going to shoot us. I don’t think there is hope in just shooting for aim with that small of a cliff. I remember grabbing on to my sweet man’s arm even tighter, praying with every bit of effort I could, pleading with God to save him. I would rather leave this world and let him stay. As we began to walk down the alley, I remember turning slightly to look and see where the gun was. Was he pulling it out to shoot?

I believe it was a blessing that a couple of girls walking by (who happened to glance into the alley) and a car pulled into the alley. It was at least buying us time if nothing else. At the end of the alley, there was a CVS where my sweet man told the guy he could go in and get money out of the ATM. I laugh now at what I am about to tell you, because it proves how completely ignorant this criminal was. He asked him, “Well, how much do you want… $50?” AND HE ACTUALLY AGREED TO THAT AMOUNT. The thought. You actually walked us all the way across this neighborhood for $50???? went through my mind. At that point, the boy told me to stay with him while my sweet man went, and I said, “NO, I am going with him.” He agreed, made us hand over our phones, and made that finger-across-the-neck-you-are-gonna-be-dead-if-anything-goes-wrong move, and we walked into CVS while he waited outside.

As we got inside the store, I turned around and said, “DO NOT GET ANY MONEY,” laughing later like he was actually going to pull some out. I ran up to the front yelling for them to call 911, THERE WAS A BOY OUTSIDE WITH A GUN!!! I asked them to please lock us in an office, and as they did, they went and locked the doors of the store. So many police men came, asking us countless questions as we told the same story over and over. The store actually had video, and at one point, as the boy made an attempt to walk up to the door and come in, realizing that it was locked and hearing the police, he ran away. At one point later, the police mentioned they saw him and ran off before they could catch him.

I kept thinking of my phone. UGH. All my contacts, friends, business, videos, photos, personal information was on that phone. I will tell you here that I have never memorized anyone’s phone number except for the man who had recently become my boyfriend. Remember? Well, I still knew his number—the same number he had for 15 years. So, I asked to make a phone call, praying he would answer. When he did, he was super supportive and called who I needed him to, expressing he was here.

I lost my phone, but when it comes down to it, I could care less—because I didn’t lose my life. My sweet man is still alive, and as long as he lets me, I will express my gratitude and love to him for saving me in that moment. He stayed calm and in control and never once allowed me to feel unsafe. He knew what he was doing and was able to take care of us both.

I am grateful for the stupidity of this criminal. He failed miserably with getting what he wanted. I pray for that boy. He must have been so desperate to put us both in danger to settle for $50 that he never actually got. I will always be grateful to those 2 CVS workers who kept us in their office and locked the doors. I respect and appreciate the law enforcement even more, thankful for their quick reaction and for how I sat there in the back of a cop car and never plan to be again.

He saved me, and I hope he will continue to do so.

As the nice police man was driving us home, he went over with us what to do after being in a traumatic experience. In that moment, everything in my life went through my mind. I remember when my dad died—going over my life and promising to be better. And last night, I was doing it again. I wanted to promise that I would be nicer, make a will, love a little better, not complain as much, laugh more often, and just be more forgiving. Life is SERIOUSLY so short—and for some reason, my sweet man’s life and mine were spared. We are able to live another day and accomplish life dreams a little longer.

If I could tell the world one thing, I would say to make life right. Don’t give up something out of fear or live lazy. Do not keep anger in your heart for very long, and believe that life is meant to be lived, even with mistakes. I am grateful for today, I am grateful to a man who currently gives me his love when I am severely imperfect, and I am grateful to my God who has given me one more day to be with the people that I love.