Danny adjusted his tie and then walked towards the two men we’d been chasing. Behind him, the gang leader clambered slowly to his feet, blood streaming from his nose. He pulled a butterfly knife from his pocket and flicked out the blade. “Danny!” I yelled in panic.

Danny turned, caught the leader’s wrist and twisted, quick and brutal. I heard a bone snap and the leader screamed and dropped the knife. Danny caught it and slammed it down hard—

The leader cried out again, cursing and wailing. The knife was buried to the hilt in the toe of his boot, pinning his foot to the ground. “Now stay,” Danny told him. He looked towards me and gave me a nod of thanks. Then for the second time, he turned to the pair we’d been chasing.

The whole group fled. The pair who’d robbed me bolted for the closest dirt bike, pushing its owner out of their way. Danny broke into a run and I chased after him.

The two guys reached the bike just as Danny caught up to them. In desperation, the thief hurled my backpack high into the air, knowing we’d have to choose between catching it and catching them. They roared away as Danny skidded to a stop and lifted his arms, shuffling left and right to try to get under the backpack. It reached the top of its arc and started to fall towards him but, to my horror, my laptop slipped free and tumbled separately, falling towards me.

“Catch it!” yelled Danny.

My chest tightened. Suddenly, I was back in high school, kids screaming at me as the softball dropped towards me. The laptop spun through the air, glossy and fragile, the lid half-open. I heard the soft wump as my backpack landed in Danny’s arms. C’mon, Erin, you can do this—

I shuffled forward, shuffled back, grabbed…and my fingers brushed smooth plastic. I’ve got it!

The laptop slid through my hands and slammed into the ground with a sickening crack.

I screwed my eyes shut, not wanting to look. Maybe it’s not that bad, I told myself. Maybe it’s tougher than I think, maybe I’ll open my eyes and it’ll be fine, just a couple of scratches….

I opened my eyes. It wasn’t fine.

The laptop had come open as it flew through the air and it had landed facedown, snapping the hinge. As I gingerly turned it over, chunks of glass fell from the shattered screen. The case had cracked open and circuit boards and wiring were spilling out.