Which way?

Most deserts can take you into the woods. I'm stuck in the shrubland. Which way should I go within the next 600 days or so?

My Story Near the Shootings in Odessa, Texas

My story started on a Friday afternoon, August 30th in Nimitz Middle School in Odessa: I had to take my car to a mechanic in West Odessa who was only working until 6:00 PM. I was done with tutoring by 5:00 PM and made it to West Odessa at around 5:30. I was done about ten minutes later. As I was getting hungry, I went home to eat dinner, then back to school to get ready for the following week. After seeing an e-mail from our principal stating that our school would be open on Saturday, I decided not to stay too late and go back the next day.

August 31st: I went back to school at around 2:30 PM (no, I'm not a morning person). Right before 4:00 PM I was still working in my room when our principal showed up, saying that UTPB (which is right across the street) was on lockdown due to some shootings nearby. She asked me to keep my room closed and locked. About five minutes later all teachers are called to the main office. We locked ourselves inside while we communicated with our friends and families about the situation. There were five of us in there along with two counselors locked in their offices nearby. We found out a few minutes later that we were on the national news. After over an hour (I think) our school district police came in and asked us to leave but to go straight home. 

Many of these shootings took place less than half a mile from where we were. I visit many of these places regularly: Market Street, where they sell my favorite American cottage cheese, right behind the Whataburger where I now go once a week, the Walmart behind the Twin Peaks, where I used to buy ground beef and where I buy school supplies, red apples, movies, soups, pasta, and sometimes junk food, the mall where I get haircuts every two months, and where I decided to get a haircut a week before. Had I not gotten my haircut a week before, had I not done my cottage cheese groceries early that week, had I not had to visit the mechanic on Friday, I would've probably been shot.

I did not finish doing what I had planned, but I'm glad to be alive and well. Even though I was not a victim, I feel grateful for all the police officers who dealt with this shooter, with all other first responders who helped the victims, and the funeral homes who have offered free services to the deceased. If you're reading this, I'm glad you're alive!