The Beginning

So I awoke from what seemed an endless sleep.
But still my surroundings remained the same- the flooded gutters spilling onto the pavements, creating an ever flowing stream stalking the dark subdued sidewalks. The still reflections from the surface water quietly broken from the light trickle of water that endlessly continued to fall from the night sky. It was only the over-hanging dimly lit street lamps that provided light, but this was still little comfort in a street that was so unforgiving on this night-a night I would grow to remember………
The street in which I awoke, face down in a thin swollen well off water seemed strangled from the overbearing surrounding buildings yawning into the night sky. Each one competing for dominance in an ever growing big city for as far as the eye could see, only occasionally broken up by the distant crossroads that lay bare to empty lanes. It must be late.
How long have I been here?
Why has no one stopped to help me?
The obvious conclusion was the ‘dog eat dog’ city that had been born over the years. The only problems this society cared for were their own individual needs and woes so any others though albeit were dismissed instantly and without prejudice.
The careless and lifeless attitude of the current crime fighting establishment is apparent within the city from the seldom looted buildings hidden behind erected boards concealing bankrupt firms and dismissed penniless ‘small’ lives. The politicians run the city with the puppet Crime commissioner tangoing to the government’s whim. The police dance to the commissioners’ plight and all three align to the ‘rule of thumb’ of the caviar eating fat cats of the city.
Is this why the banks stand tall and dominating in an ever aging world?
I lifted my face from the pool of water which had accumulated in an uneven road surface on which I had unconsciously lay upon the streets sidewalk. With my hands I balanced myself to my knees. With my face cobwebbed in laces of my fine black hair I shuddered in the bitterly cold night’s air. My eyes were flooded with residue water to which my eye sight was bleak and blurred.
Adjacent to my dishevelled body across the street a hazy grinning serpentine statue prompted me to gasp. It was as if it had known my current torment staring straight in my direction. Staring straight into my eyes! The lifeless intimidating figure had seen what happened- had known my despair. ‘Laugh at me’ I thought- subconsciously starting an argument with a stoned figure. How stupid I am!
Combing my hair from my face I fisted my hands and pressured the water from my red blood-shot eyes, the splinters of grit causing a burning sensation whilst I strained them dry. Although painful the ability of full sight was welcoming and encouraging to my mental state at this present time. The Serpentine was also less threatening with its ‘frozen in time’ state.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot through my skull to the front of my forehead. Had I hit it when I went down? Or had I been struck with a blow to the head? Both options seemed plausible but totally unjustified and unmotivated. I had no enemies, I must have been attacked and stolen from! Ignoring the shooting pain to my forehead I scrambled into my brown long suede jacket pockets to establish my loss. All contents remained snug and untouched. My money and card carrier, my car keys and the cigarette lighter I carried for no apparent reason other than to start a good conversation when asked ‘have you got a light’. Everything was present and correct- this was a blessing if albeit only brief.
Time to assess the damage to my head. I moved my hand to the pain, a slight gash with a splinter of blood. Surveying the damage it could have been worse. I’m establishing it was created from the fall. But what made me fall? My memory is a haze and blank. This is a bad situation.
The water from the night sky had slowly come to a halt but the clouds diminished all the stars and engulfed the moon to portray a murky moving canvass tickling the tips of the protruding buildings. The icy chill was still there though, nipping at my skin through my soaking wet clothes, dancing along my eye lashes and clamping my toes. I could not feel my ears, but I had not lost the ability to hear, coupled this with my returning eye site, I had a fighting chance of survival here.
I stumbled clumsily to my feet, my knees felt weak and unsecure but the dimly lit street lamp measuring up next to me caught my fall as my legs gave way.
I’m up and I’m ready to fight. I’m a winner determined to survive and ready to live, but I have not always had this outlook, not always been this way.
After I gathered my thoughts and stabilised my legs I surveyed my surroundings, subliminally looking for an escape route. I didn’t need one though- my attackers had gone and I presume they had got what they wanted. This is if I was followed, this is if I was attacked, this is if I was knocked down by another being ……….