A Knee-High Slit

The massive security guard’s hands clamped onto Nora’s upper arms. He yanked her backward, ignoring her soft whimper, and dragged her through the gleaming boutique doors. He shoved her through the exit, dumping her onto the busy sidewalk. Nora bit the inside of her cheek. She refused to let the tears stinging her eyes fall. Not here. Not in front of the gawking pedestrians who stopped to stare at