September 15, 2001
Mesa, Arizona: Gas Station of Balbir Singh Sodhi

Inside the head of Balbir Singh Sodhi:
I sit inside at the cash register in my gas station. Its a nice day; its finally starting to cool off. I hear a car rumble up and I see a man, around 40, get out of his car. He looks around suspiciously as he fills up his car.

As he paces next to his car, I notice a bulge under his jacket that he holds onto the entire time. He glances into the store where I sit and sees me. I give him a friendly wave and smile; he glares and mutters.

As I sit, in my turban and beard, I think about how I am going to Gurudwara tonight, with my son and brother, and how thankful I am to have them.

All of a sudden, the door bangs open and the same man stands in the doorway, with his face red. All the other customers stare at him as he draws out the bulge, a gun, and points it at me. “Filthy terrorist!” he shouts and shoots 1-2-3-4-5 times. I hear screams. I think “God, oh help me dear God.“

Why me?