She was able to keep her clothes on for the last stretch of the walk, and she was finally back in the park. She made her way to the other end and got in her car. She knew now was the moment of truth. Even though she was more confident than ever a few moments before, her hands were starting to tremble. "You can do this Mary. You just tested it all out; it will be fine, with or without clothes."
She pulled her shirt up over her head. She sat topless in her car. She got her shoes and socks off, and removed her pants. She knew her underwear was still in her pocket, so she was now naked.
She looked out her car windows. It was still plenty dark and she didn't see any signs of life. She folded her clothes and sat them on the passenger seat.
She opened her door, and slowly got out. The lights from inside her car made her feel more revealed than she needed to be. She couldn't believe how fast her confidence was dropping. She figured that was the difference with just pulling your clothes off, and actually stepping away from them.
She stayed crouched near her car door, naked and wondering what to do. She saw the lock button for her doors, and she pushed it. She heard them all click. This was going to be the moment!
She stood and looked around. She was still very alone. She ran the whole route in her head. She would probably only have to hide once or twice and she wouldn't be caught. It wasn't a long distance, and it would be over in no time she thought. Yet still, she stalled her hand on the door. She knew there would be no going back, but she knew also she had to try this.
With one final breath, Mary swung the door shut, and in an instant her clothes, her way home, and her fate were sealed. She was now locked out naked, and any chance to get out this easily was to travel multiple blocks completely naked!
Later when Mary would think back about this adventure, the total contrast between a few moments ago, and the moment the door locked would be astounding. However at this time, she wasn't thinking anything about that.
When she had been imagining this adventure, she tried to picture this moment. She didn't drop over dead, and she didn't feel she had the strength to tear a hole in her door to get back in, but she still couldn't believe what was going on.
She was very naked, and she couldn't get at her clothes. She couldn't even tell how she felt. One thing was for sure, she did feel vulnerable. She felt the cold night air touching every inch of her skin. She was completely stranded. She was essentially trapped and helpless.
In a few moments, the interior light of her car went off. Although the added darkness perhaps hid her more, it didn't help her chaotic mind. She now felt even more alone, adding to her vulnerability. She didn't have Julie and Jenny here to help her. She had put herself into this situation, and the fact that she did this all to herself scared her, almost as much of the idea of having to walk such a large distance naked.
Mary had been confident moments earlier. She didn't know where it all went though. When she was in control, and could see no one was around, she felt like nothing could go wrong. She was able to convince herself to pull her clothes off on whims. Yet it was different now. Was it because her clothes were locked away and she couldn't choose to get dressed? Was it because now she had no choice? Was it because now there was no way of stopping or avoid the unknown?
She gripped her bare body with her hands. She ran her hands across her skin. She knew she was without a stitch head to toe, but she still was trying to straighten out her mind. She was starting to remember she couldn't sit there all night.
She finally began to stand, or at least stand to a semi-crouched position. She looked all around the park. A path lay before her, lights shining her way down to the other side where she would have to go. "Why did I choose this as the first obstacle?" She asked herself.