Living in fear

There were about 20 of them. I couldn’t keep track of the amount of times the powerful thing went off. My mom and brother thought it was fireworks but I heard it so many times I knew exactly what it was. I could see the flashing blue lights outside the window; no sound though. Every time I hear the sound of gunshots my heart skips a beat. I think to myself, Why does this have to be going on around me? After we figured out what happened my mom said, “This is why I don’t like you guys outside.” I despise those words because it’s not the first time I heard them.

I was probably eight years old when I first heard those same sounds. I can’t even spend my childhood outside without worrying that my life could be in danger. They say “put down the guns” but it seems like these words are meaningless. Why can’t people think about their children or their future children seeing something like this happening before pulling the trigger? I honestly don’t know what our world is coming to — I wrote words similar to this when I was about 11 years old trying to figure out why I can’t play outside with my friends. When is this going to stop, when am I going to stop hearing, “You can’t play outside; it’s too dangerous.” When are we ever going to be safe? There is one thing I refuse to do and that is telling my future children that they can not play outside because it’s too dangerous. I need to make a change and start now so that future generations won’t have to fear for their lives every step they take.