She walked in a mad daze, as fast as her feet could carry her. Rushing past a closed warehouse, she approached a dead end and her heart skipped a beat. She could almost sense the man following her smile. This is how I die, she thought.  She turned around fishing in her handbag for her pepper spray can. She held the cold canister in her palms feeling confident. The man approached her smiling.

She stood with her feet apart ready to kick him in the balls if needed, one hand still in her bag. He approached her as he pulled out something from his trenchcoat. That’s it. She drew out the canister and sprayed him.

The evening air pervaded with fumes of honeysuckle and gardenia.

“Hey lady, I appreciate the deodorant but I would still like a few dollars!” the bum said throwing a tin cup in front of her.