The waves on Lake Erie’s beach were
calm, just barely lapping at the shore.
I felt a strangeness in the air, and the hairs on my neck
stood on end, though I didn’t yet understand what for.
Despite the thick cloak of silence all around,
something inside me knew that I was not alone.
It was then I felt a hand over my mouth and a knife at my
neck as a graveled voice spoke in a menacing tone.
“You have an important choice ahead of you—
it’s up to you to decide how this will all play out.
Either I can slit your throat right now on
this beach, or you can choose a second route.”
“So what will it be? One?... Or two?” he snarled,
awaiting a sign indicating my verdict.
I felt panic course through my body, and the pressure
of his knife caused my throat to constrict.
“One?” he repeate
