my breath came in short pants as i ran down the street. my dress; my favorite yellow dresss, was already torn, though i knew my night was only begining. my shoes were somewhere along the deserted sidewalk; my fists hand opened in the first few minutes of my panicked run. in all my life, i had never seen my city so empty before. chills ran down my spine. i ran faster to the old law firm where my mother used to work. i stopped outside, my breathing slowly returning to normal. the locket around my neck reminded me why i was here. i grasped desperately for the clasp; i pulled it open and cradeled the locket in my palm. i snapped it open, letting my mind wander. it was not old, just about four months or so. it was tarnished in some places; in others, little diamonds were falling off, leaving little holes. on the back, right in the center, the silver was a pink color, showing the wear-and-tear of it all. i stared at the picture inside for a few seconds until my mind snapped back to reality. i stepped inside…