Swollen....

he staggered a little as he walked against the cold. he was an old man, his hair long, his beard unkept. his clothes were ragged, his coat torn. at the head of the alley, they had the young girl's car blocked in. she was out of the car and trying to fight them off. one of the thugs slapped her. the old man heard her cry for help as she fell. picking up an empty bottle, he lunged into the fray, swinging wildly and making animal sounds. he caught one of the boys on the side of the head as the bottle shattered. pulling his knife from his pocket, he stabbed the second one just as he caught a blow to the face. he turned in a bloody rage as the third boy ran. wobbled, he heard the girl. 'c'mon, get in with me... we've got to go! ' he heard the sound of the sirens as he fell into the seat...