Anything Can Happen

Like a soldier in an enemy camp
She moves silently
Watchful eyes ahead
Ears perked to sounds behind.

Its a short walk to the store,
Just down the way and round the corner.
Yet in her heart she knows
Anything can happen in this short time.

Glancing down every driveway,
Scanning every street,
She looks for signs of life
That could be threatening

Not that she has seen any
Over the past 3 years
But anything can happen
In this short time.

Wait a second.
Her steps slow down
Almost stopping altogether.
A man turns the corner up ahead.

She begins walking again,
Slower than before as she approaches him
Eyes even sharper,
Ears now trained to the front.

As they pass each other,
She speeds up
Her ears once again perked behind
For sounds from a man who had said nothing

She reminds herself
she will see people as she walks
And in front of the store;
Nothing has happened…

“Yet.”
Says her heart.
Anything can happen
In this short time.