I turned down Elm Street, quickening my pace slightly. The footsteps behind me sped up as well, keeping in time with me.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I fished my phone from my bag, pretending to check messages while opening my camera app. I held it up as if taking a selfie, angling to capture the street behind me.
There he was—Royal from the coffee shop—maintaining the same distance, his eyes fixed directly on me.
I lowered the phone, mind racing. My house was still two blocks away, but Mrs. Henderson's porch light was on just ahead. The elderly woman knew me well; she'd been my first friend when I moved here three years ago.
Without obvious hurry, I changed course and headed up her walkway, hearing the footsteps behind me pause. I knocked on her door, smiling with false brightness when she appeared.
"Lily! What a lovely surprise."
"Hi, Mrs. Henderson. I was just passing by and thought I'd say hello." I stepped inside, stealing a glance back at the street.
Royal stood at the corner, hands in his pockets, watching me retreat with an unreadable expression before smiling at a woman who was walking towards him.
Clearly, I had overreacted, as the two fell in step with one another. He was just meeting his girlfriend, or perhaps it was his wife.
"Are you alright, dear? You look flushed." Mrs. Henderson peered at me through her wire-rimmed glasses.
"I'm fine. Just a long day with the kiddos." I followed her into her cozy living room, the walls lined with photographs of her children and grandchildren.
"Sit, sit. I just made lemon bars." She gestured toward her floral sofa.
I sank into the cushions, my heart rate gradually slowing as the aroma of lemon and powdered sugar filled the air. Mrs. Henderson busied herself in the kitchen while I silently chastised myself for my overreaction. Of course, he wasn't following me. What kind of stalker introduces himself by name in a public place?
Twenty minutes and two lemon bars later, I thanked Mrs. Henderson and continued home, feeling better but somehow still uneasy. The streets were quiet now, just the occasional car passing by headlights sweeping across the tidy lawns of my neighborhood.
I opened the door, and Mabel trotted up to me. A once feral cat that I had rescued off the streets. She settled on her half of the table, something we had to come to a compromise on, looking expectantly at her food dish.
"I know, I know," I murmured, scratching behind her ears before filling her bowl with kibble. The familiar routine helped settle my nerves as Mabel purred and wound around my ankles.
I kicked off my flats and padded to the kitchen, pulling leftover Chinese takeout from the refrigerator. As I waited for it to heat in the microwave, I found myself gravitating toward the living room window that faced the street.
The sidewalk stretched empty under the amber glow of streetlights. No leather jacket in sight. I let the curtain fall back into place and shook my head at my paranoia.
My phone buzzed with a text from my friend Sarah:How was your day? Still loving the single teacher life?
I typed back:Mostly. Had a weird encounter today. Probably nothing.
Three dots appeared immediately.Weird how? Did some kindergarten parent hit on you again?
No, just some guy at Marie's. Thought he might have followed me home, but I'm being dramatic.
FOLLOWED YOU? Lily, that's not dramatic. Did you call the police?
I stared at the message, my takeout growing cold on the counter. When put in Sarah's words, it did sound more serious. But what would I tell them? A man walked in the same direction as me after we had a perfectly normal conversation.
It was probably a coincidence. I'm fine now.
Promise me you'll be careful. Maybe come stay here for a few days?
The thought of driving an hour to her house was daunting.
I'm fine, Sarah. Really.It’s been a long day. Talk to you later <3
I tossed my cell phone onto the wingback chair by the window and settled on the couch with my lukewarm lo mein. I couldn't shake the memory of Royal's intense gaze or the deliberate way he'd maintained that distance behind me.Something about the whole interaction felt rehearsed, like he'd done this before.
Mabel jumped onto the cushion beside me, her green eyes reflecting the television's glow. At least I wasn't completely alone.
