consequence of protecting a friend

A blog about the pain of protecting, and then losing a friend

Have you ever scared away a friend, just by protecting them? This happened to me when I was in New York a few years back. You see most of the time I come across as a real genial guy. I'm tall(6'3), but not overly intimidating, so I can be over looked as a possible threat by would be toughs. Anyway my friend is just getting off the subway train, on her way home from work. On my way out one of the local grocery stores, I spot my friend just emerging from the tunnel of the subway station. Her face is in a panic, face white and sweaty. looking over her shoulder and down the tunnel. I run over to her from the store to ask what is wrong. As i come closer i see two things. First: her clothes are kind of ripped up, two: three medium size guys are coming up the steps with taunts dying on there lips. As I see them, I start to come closer to my friend, to put her behind me. As the three guys reach the top and are now at street level. One of the guys asks if she is my bitch, and that i should share. I haven't said a word to them yet, i am still evaluating my options. when the largest of the three flips out a knife and tells me to get lost. (this next part was told to me later) In a voice devoid of emotion, I told the guy to put the knife away now, or suffer the consequences the rest of his short life. My friend, and all three guys took a involuntary step back from me, all of them reevaluating me. Knife guy made the mistake of coming at me. Not knowing if all three were going to attack I took lethal action. Spinning away from his clumsy thrust, I hit his wrist with my left hand making him drop the knife, while at the same time throwing a snap kick to his knee making him fall back down the stairs grabbing one of his buddies with him. The remaining guy just looked at me in shock, as i towered over him asking in that same cold voice are we done here? He turned and ran away, my friend just looked at me like I had grown into some kind of monster. Saying i never would have believed you were such a cold person. Stay away from me, I never want anything to do with you again. Then she too ran away. I still wonder to this day if I did the right thing. The guys who fell down the stairs lived. spent a little time in a hospital, but still alive and stupid.

You see I really do hate using violence, but sometimes you have to bring the pain. Maybe this wasn't that time, all I know is I lost a friend, but she still has her life so I guess it evens out.
So to those of you that I call my friend, be aware I may smile and let many things go, but if I feel you are in danger, I'm going to bring the pain when needed. If it means keeping you safe and alive, I'll bring the pain even at the cost of losing your friendship.
I have other friends of mine tell me, she was just in shock and didn't mean the things she said, and I did the right thing, but I can't shake the feeling if I had acted differently, maybe they would have just left and I would still have my friend. Please feel free to comment on this blog. until next time. :-)