We collided.
The gun discharged.
The shot exploded above us.
Wood splintered from the porch beam.
Darren screamed.
We struggled.
The weapon came loose.
It hit the porch.
For one chaotic second both of us saw it.
I reached it first.
I backed away.
Darren froze.
The entire situation reversed in an instant.
I held the weapon.
He was unarmed.
“Stay where you are.”
His face emptied.
“Don’t.”
“Do not move toward me.”
“You can’t do this.”
“You pulled a gun.”
“This is HOA enforcement.”
“No.”
I kept backing toward the edge of the porch.
“This is a crime scene.”
Darren stepped forward.
I told him to stop.
He did not.
He lunged toward me and the weapon.
I fired.
He collapsed.
The sound was deafening.
He screamed.
Then he tried again to drag himself toward where he thought he could reach me.
I shouted for him to stop.
