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About six years ago, I would have never thought to put horror and grocery store in the same sentence. If horror is what you're looking for, boy do I have a story for you.

I went on a grocery shopping trip with my mother which is something we had done together dozens of times, but this trip ended up being much different than usual. I had two of my children with me, my two year old son went with my mother in her cart so she could do her shopping, and I brought my 1 year old daughter with me. I was in the back of the store checking out the meat selection, not too far from the butchers window, when I felt someone grab my arm. I thought it was my mother, but when I turned to look, it was a man that I had never seen before.

He whispered to me, "I am about to rob this store and I am taking you with me", and then he showed me his gun. Immediately, my heart sank into my stomach. My first thought was my daughter being strapped in the seat belt attached to the cart and how I was going to get us away from him unharmed. He's still holding on to my arm and walking with me slowly as we approach the butchers window. I attempt to make eye contact with the butcher, he glanced back at me and I tried to give him a terrified look, but he didn't catch on.

I didn't know what else to do, but when I looked at my daughter, even at her young age, I could tell she knew something was not right. That is when my motherly instinct kicked right in, I hit him as hard as I could in the face. I didn't even know I was going to do it, I snatched my daughter out of the cart as hard as I could because I knew I didn't have time to unbuckle her. There must have been an angel looking out for us that day because she came right out. I ran as fast as I could and hoped he wouldn't shoot me as I turned my back, all I could do was look for the closest emergency exit. I left out the back of the store with my daughter and ran to a nearby tire store and asked them to dial 911.

I must have really been in shock, because I forgot my mom and son were still in the store, when the police arrived, it took everything in me to go back in and find them. When I entered the grocery store again, the police had the man restrained and at gunpoint after he attempted to demand money from the cashier. When I found my mom and son, all I could do was cry and hug them because I didn't know what happened after I exited the store. I was so glad to know they were safe.

The biggest obstacle that I've overcome since then was, facing him in court, he is the only human being that actually put fear in my heart. Fortunately, he plead guilty and is still in jail due to the incident and a host of other robberies.

Now, grocery shopping is not something that I enjoy doing at all, and I don't go unless it is absolutely necessary. My wonderful husband has taken on that responsibility and I definitely don't allow my children to go. This incident has left me scarred, but I do plan to completely overcome what has happened.

Learn more about this author, Chakira Ward.
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