The Knock Came Before I Could Dial 911

ones who count on a woman being polite.

I went to the drawer beside the stove and pulled out my heaviest thing: a cast-iron skillet my mother gave me when I moved out. I had never made anything in it except burnt grilled cheese.

The banging started then.

Not knocks anymore.

The whole door jumped in the frame.

“Open the damn door.”

The operator told me to continue reading …