She came out of the shower, a few drops of water still clinging to her, hair still damp, wrapping her green satin robe around her body.. enjoying its feel against her bare skin.
She wondered about the phone call. The voice sounded familiar... in fact, it sounded like someone she had just spoken to recently. Perhaps someone from her job at the cafe? Or possibly someone she'd met in passing from the apartment building? But she couldn't quite place the voice. The masculine voice certainly didn't sound American, there was a calming delicate accent of some kind ... yet it called her by name and asked what she was doing that evening ...... and, when she had said that she was staying home, the soft voice suggested that she leave her apartment door unlatched and see what might happen that night - if she was feeling brave enough, that is.. then, just as suddenly, with a click the voice was gone.
She wasn't sure that she did feel brave ..... but the voice sounded rather intriguing and, she had to face it, life had been pretty routine lately. Choosing to ignore the feelings of doubt and fear running through her head, she walked over to the front door and slipped the latch, leaving the door shut but not locked ... Thinking nothing would happen. It was probably just a joke.
She wandered back into the kitchen and looked at the dishes stacked up next to the sink. They weren't going to wash themselves, she decided. She filled the sink with hot water and start to wash them.
She had almost finished when she thought she heard a slight noise from the direction of her front door. She froze for a moment, listening. Then silence returned. So she eased, and carried on as if nothing had happened.
Just as she stacked the last clean dishes she felt two strong, yet gentle, hands taking hold of her hips. She startled and froze. She felt her heart skip, unsure of what to do ... unable to move ... fear enveloped her, paralyzing her.. The hands continued firmly, but unthreateningly. And the realization that a murderer or mugger, or someone who meant her harm would not have been so gentle.. and could have done serious damage by now - so, she held back her scream. She drew in a sharp breath as the hands touched her shoulders, the thumbs caressing the back of her neck. She stood silently frozen, staring forward with the stranger to her back ... Waiting with anticipation as to what was to came next.