How To Win A Million Dollars. There was seriously quite the scene going on, I’ll call it a party to be on the safe side. The further I crept in, the livelier the scene became. Actually, I, thank God, found a safe haven in this place. There were people dancing everywhere, plastic cups scattered on the lawn like they were weeds, thumping music, kids playing poker, pockets of people just standing around talking, drinking. There was even a shouting match or two and a couple of fights about to break out. It was a rowdy affair, to say the least. I made my way through the crowds, doing my best to blend in. I thought I was in clear, free from my capture, when all of a sudden, out the corner of my eye, I spot them – and they notice me as well. My stomach churns and I freeze.

Knowing that I can’t just let them approach me, I quickly come to my senses and am once again on the move. I bounce around from circle to circle, but I just can’t seem to lose them. In the background, the arguing and fighting has escalated; shouting can now be heard over the music. More and more people are attracted to the situation, and a large crowd grows. I slip inside the mob thinking full well that I’d be safe and out of sight; that feeling quickly vanishes as the grip of two large hands clamp down on the top of my shoulders.

I don’t remember much of that moment, save for the boisterous crowd being drowned out by the crackling laughter of my two hijackers. Being ripped from a throng of people, however, I remember explicitly. It was one of the most terrifying feelings to come over me in my entire life, especially considering the fact that no one so much as tried to help me. They were distracted, yes, but I was pulling on limbs and yelling at the top of my lungs. In hindsight, I guess everyone thought I was just part of the crowd and acting accordingly. Nevertheless, I was completely engulfed by people, and yet I had never felt so alone.