In hindsight, it was like a car accident. The moment slowed down, able to be seen from other angles, almost. The memory seemed like a crystal, throwing little versions of itself into every moment of my day. Had it happened at all? It had seemed far more real than any dream Ive ever had, but when I opened my eyes I was completely fine.
I could remember the night before and the nightmare of retail customers that made me regret ever agreeing to cover my friend Stephanie’s shift.

I could remember the moment I’d decided to go into the woods, too. It wasn’t really woods, per se, but in the city Central Park was the closest thing I’d get to actual woods.
So I headed past the Metropolitan Museum and made my way towards the North Meadow. It was dark, the scent of rain heavy in the October air. The leaves had only just begun to change color, and only a smattering had fallen to the ground. At ten o’clock, the park was mostly empty. Even the dog owners and walkers did not choose to venture out with the threat of impending rain, and so for the most part I was alone. I pulled my overcoat close to my lean body when a gust of wind rattled the drying foliage and sent a tumult of fragile leaves to the ground. I’d been distracted by the sound of the leaves scattering to the dirt when it had happened.

I only glanced away for the smallest moment, really. Yet when my dark brown eyes flicked back to the path ahead, it was too late already. The biggest dog I’d ever seen was sailing through the air towards me, its jaws a gaping maw filled with teeth as long as my fingers. The world seemed to stop then, all my memories of caution around dogs coming back to me in the frozen, horrid moment before the attack. ‘A dog that is growling is only defending itself, or angry. A dog that makes no sound intends to kill,’ my mother had once cautioned me
.
The scream that I forced up my throat, only escaped as a huff of air forced from my lungs as the immense beast landed squarely on my chest. I felt the heavy paws pinning me to the ground, I could feel the claws digging into my shoulder and chest with such force that surly caused bruises. I had heard a crack when my head hit the cement behind me—a bone. My ribs? My skull? I couldn’t tell. Then the teeth. OH GOD THE teeth! Oh please how I wished I fainted or could faint so badly right now, or perhaps been knocked out by the fall. It would have been a mercy compared to the feeling of the animal's jaws squeezing down so hard, on my shoulder. A popping sound rang in my ears as the fabric of my coat gave way. It wasn’t just pressure—I defiantly could feel the fangs of the canine ripping deep into me, digging deep into my flesh.
OH god I tried to scream again, and again, but to no avail—it only came out as a grunt. With all my might I was able to scrambled, striking the dog on its head, trying desperately to scratch at it or kick it. I tried to shout, but as soon as I managed a sound the dog began to shake ever so violently, as if I were a toy. Its strength was amazing, and as it thrashed my body much like a doll in the hands of an exuberant toddler.

I wasn’t sure when the shaking stopped, but I felt the teeth retract from my flesh and re-grip just shy of the first bite. The canine didn’t shake as vigorously this time, instead trying to tear and rip with short jerks. Another pop and a grinding noise that made my' hair stand on all ends.

Oh god, this is how I die, isn’t it? I thought, struggling futilely against the beast that was currently trying to rip my shoulder to pieces. I could taste blood in my mouth, and feel my heart hammering so hard in my chest. With the last of my strength I could muster I gripped the dog’s ear and pulled hard, trying to dislodge it. My other hand scrambled at its face in an attempt to find something vital, though I had realized My arm wasn’t working right. I was very badly wounded—and just lucky at the moment that I couldn’t feel it.