Who Are You?

By Nyoikhaw Pansa

I was out on the street, chaos filling the air,

shopping bags in my hand, people running everywhere.

And then I saw him running, black clothes, jet-black hair,

a face I'd never seen, but I couldn't help but stare.

I froze for a second, he turned, locked eyes,

the kind of moment where the world just flies.

Next thing I know, we collide, his strong arms to my chest,

my heart's racing fast like it's failing the test.

Bullets rained down like hail in a storm.

He grabbed my arm, said, “Stay calm.”

I noticed the gun, but it didn't feel wrong,

he pulled me close, said, “Run, just hold on.”

We ducked through alleys, escaping the fight,

breath fogging the air in the dead of the night.

Found a safe spot, my heart still pounding,

strangers a minute ago, now our arms are entwined.

What is this feeling? It doesn't make sense,

Two strangers hugging, no walls, no defense.

Then the silence broke, shadows closing in,

a gang of black suits, this ain't a game I can win.

Someone fired a shot, it echoed so loud.

He took the hit and fell to the ground.

I screamed, “No!” as my soul split in two,

felt like my whole world collapsed in the view.

I dropped to my knees, begged fate to rewind,

but it's cruel, it doesn't listen, it just leaves you behind.

And then I woke, my bedroom in sight,

sweat on my skin, tears cried through the night.

“Was it just a dream?” I asked the air,

touching my face, still feeling despair.

“Could I meet you? Like in movies we see?

If I meet you, I'll protect you, I swear.”

Then I laughed at myself, shook off the thought.

A dream is just a dream, nothing else to be caught.

But deep within, I can't let it go.

The man in my dream, the one I'll never know.

I could only whisper, “who are you?” to myself.

By Nyoikhaw Pansa