Social Distancing

Marc and Alana probably shouldn’t have locked lips after defeating Anat in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. They weren’t thinking. But they were two of the only three people in the park. And we know the third person was on the ground dying. Or was she?

Marc and Alana walked right home after the fight. They showered and watched the YES Network’s broadcast of Righetti’s no-hitter v. Boston on July 4, 1983. Billy Martin was managing the game, Yogi was coaching and the Scooter was in the booth. It was 94 degrees that day. Marc remembered watching the game at his grandma’s house. A few weeks later the famous George Brett Pine Tar game happened. Not so royal.

The two cranked the Ramones and dreamed of partying with Sheena at Rockaway Beach. They were mighty proud of their handiwork. But knew it likely wasn’t over. They fell asleep in each other’s arms while Joy Division’s “Love will tear us apart” was cranking.

The next morning Anat woke up on the pavement of the park. She was confused. She felt dizzy and was in pain. She took her almost dead iPhone and took a selfie of her face.She pulled up her shirt and saw bruises on her chest and abdomen. She nearly fainted when she saw her headshot.

Her eyes were black and blue and she had cuts on her pretty face. Yes, she does have a pretty face. If she washed up she’d be hot.  She tried to stand up. She fell right down. She put her hands on her head and broke out in a hysterical cry. She knew she did this to herself. Most of her misery had been self-inflicted. Okay, she could never change her parents’ lack of love and affection. But she did have her grandma’s love and she did well academically. She did better than most. She never did drugs. She didn’t drink that much. Once in a while, she would have a glass of wine or a beer. But she carried so much angst. She needed to drop it.

She finally got up in the desolate park. She walked out and got an Uber to take her back to her apartment in the city. The whole ride she kept her head down and cried.

She walked into her apartment. Surprisingly she kept it immaculate. She stripped out of her torn clothes and walked toward the shower.