JOURNAL

What is it with people these days?

I was riding the bus home, as I always do. Sitting by myself with my backpack on the seat next to me, with my arm through one of the straps because I've seen people get robbed and I've been robbed before and I live in the hood and and and. Minding my business. No more than ten minutes from my bus stop and short walk to my front door. Coming up to a stop a guy across the aisle from me gets up and stands by the door preparing to exit the bus. When the door opens he grabs my backpack and tries to run out the door. Having my arm through one of the straps, even though it was sitting on the seat next to me, makes it difficult for him to leave with my backpack and I yank the backpack back, he pulls again even harder, then I pull back even harder and he starts to sort of stumble into my general area. He's not letting this backpack go. I pulled my other arm back and punched him square on the side of the head, right in the temple. Dude dropped to the ground, out cold. I knocked this motherfucker out. I didn't necessarily mean to knock him out. But I did.

The whole bus, practically, erupts in cheers. The bus doesn't move and the driver exits the driver seat to come and check on the guy and he starts asking me questions. Unknown to me, he had already triggered the emergency button. It couldn't have been more than two minutes and the transit police were there and the guy was coming to on the floor by the door. The transit police take me and the guy I punched and put us in separate vehicles and starts questioning us. I tell my story, they believe me, take my statement and details and say they'll be in touch if they need anything else from me and let me go. I really have no idea what went down with the guy I punched, I was so pissed that I was just in a hurry to get the fuck out of there.

But, like, I'm just so in awe. Even though I really shouldn't be. I live in the hood. This shit happens all the time. I watched a guy get the crap beat out of him to the point that I'm not sure he survived. Just a couple weeks ago. I hear gunshots every night at some point when I step out for a smoke. Cars get stolen daily. Porch pirates are more common than they're not. So on and so forth. But still. I'm in awe. Like, the audacity to try and steal a bag practically from someones lap in broad daylight. Who does that? And then to not just give it up when I try to snatch it back? What in the actual living fuck? And hearing people cheer? Were they happy I stood up for myself and my property or were they excited about watching someone get knocked out just for the sake of it? I feel like it's probably 50/50 on that one. It's just so disillusioning. And saddening.

On whole other note, therapy appointment tomorrow. I'm stoked.