You thought you were alone.
As you walked down the dark streets back to your apartment building in the chilly autumn night, you thought you were safe. As your uncomfortable stilettos clicked along the sidewalk, you reflected on your night.
Your friend had set you up on a date, whom she swore would be perfect for you. She told you that he was the tall dark and handsome man of your dreams, because she knew you so well. Not even she truly knows you. But you went along with it anyways, looking to at least have something good come out of it, whether it be a long-lasting relationship or a short-term fuck in the bathroom stall. So, you went to that bar, getting there 10 minutes before the set time of 9pm. And you waited those 10 minutes, which then turned into 20, which then turned into 10pm. You texted your friend, asking what the hell was up but she was just as upset as you. So you left, sweeping up your purse from the bar and walking down the street, briskly walking those 3 blocks that it took to get to your apartment.
Of course you were upset. Of course you didn't notice those footsteps that had been trailing you since you left the bar. But it's completely understandable. Eventually, as you thought about how cold it was out for a late October night, you finally heard something. A rustle of a trash bag, blowing in the wind directly in front of you. The noise startled you, made you get out of your occupied head. Now you were paying attention.
I saw the moment that you flinched, pausing in the middle of the sidewalk. I stopped too, roughly 30 feet behind you, but I kept staring at your hair billowing in the wind, along with that too-short dress for such a cold evening. It made my heart beat just that much faster. Then you continued walking, but you looked wary. I saw your head moving from side to side a few times, observing your surroundings, but you never looked back. As we approached your apartment, I saw your footsteps quicken, stilettos clicking even louder. When you reach the steps of your apartment, you finally turn around.