the heels of my feet
stalk my stride—
i hide my face in my hair
and feel the cold cloud my hands.
every corner,
every alleyway—
twisting behind me.
faces upon faces,
terror upon my vision;
i have every right to be shaken up.
pacing behind each wall,
wide eyes
and paranoid faces—
i hope the men that smile at me
don’t have a story behind it.