It’s real out here

I live in one of the worst projects in NYC. It came at #1 in an article about the most dangerous neighborhoods. The article also recommended you wear a “bulletproof vest” when in this neighborhood. That whole “if you ain’t from here, don’t come here” saying is real. We have our own precinct but that doesn’t stop the crime. Most places refuse to deliver here. When I was younger, I was out all the time. I had friends that we were much older than me. I was alwaysss in fights. The older I got, the less time I spent outside. Now I don’t do anything in my own neighborhood, how could I? It’s not safe and I outgrew all that shit. People nowadays don’t fight fair, they use guns. I have one friend here and that’s only because we went to school together. Unfortunately he’s cool with gang members. We were outside one day and someone started calling him a pussy. Sounded like he was mad about something and wanted to fight. I said “oh hell no, let’s go” and I kept walking. My friend actually felt some type of way about it. He said he couldn’t believe I was just tryna walk away and how I “ain’t about nothing”. Excuse you, this ain’t my beef and I’m not about to die for no one. This just showed me how people are really pressured into joining someone’s else’s problem because that’s what you’re “supposed to do”. If that man had a gun, I would’ve been killed just by association. They’re trying to gentrify this place, good luck with that! I can’t wait to get out of here. Anyways, am I wrong? If he were to get hit or jumped, I would’ve helped. But if there’s a possibility of a gun (which in this place, always assume there is), I’m out. I tried to explain that to him, but he didn’t care.

My friend is 23 and I’m 21, if anyone’s wondering. We’re too young to die.