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I was being followed.
For days now, if notweeks.
Definitely days.
For that long, I’d been certain.
It was always at a distance, never close enough that the average person would even notice, most likely. That meant they were good at it, which was worrisome.
The thing was, I wasn’t the average woman - maybe they knew that, maybe they didn’t.
If theydidn’tknow, that was a good thing. For me, at least. Maybe not for them. But if theydid, and followed me anyway, well…let’s just hope they didn’t.
The soles of my athletic shoes made a steadytap, tap, tap,against the pavement as I trotted up the half-lit sidewalk, not wanting to break my pace. I was tired, and really should’ve been winding down from my too-early in the morning meditation session.
That’s what this was for me - supposed to be something peaceful, a way to clear my mind. But now I was on edge, because someone had interrupted my serenity.
Just the thought of it made me angry, because… how dare they?
I didn’t cross anyone, didn’t mess with anybody.
I minded my business, just lived my life.
All I wanted was solitude - to be left alone and not reminded of what my life used to be, so I could remain firmly planted in what it wasnow.
I just… I wouldn’t live like that anymore.
Nope.
Today, whatever this was, was about to stop.
This is a terrible idea, a little voice in my head popped up, as I suddenly rounded into an alley that was definitely not on my plan. I pushed that to the back of my mind though, forcing myself to regulate my breathing as I pulled my body into a fighting stance.
At first, it was quiet except for the music still playing in one ear. Thestreetwas quiet, the residential area tucked far enough away from the glitz and glam of what most attributed to Vegas to be polluted by the constant traffic and noise.
Gently, I pulled the other bud from my ear, tucking it into the relative safety of my sports bra. Once I’d done that, the steady patter of the other runner’s shoes coming up the pavement was clear as a bell.
Maybe it was a coincidence.
Maybe this was just someone else who’d taken to using the quiet of early morning as their personal sanctuary, like I had. As the footsteps drew closer, I doubted myself, wondering if I was just being paranoid.
God knows I had plenty of reason for that.
But as the time ticked down for me to either act or let them pass, I remembered the admonition I’d received from the wisest person I knew.
If you feel like something isn’t right, trust it.
I didn’t trustthis.
Not at all.
Because of that, it took little for me to draw on the strength of pure adrenaline, timing myself to put my full power into a high kick just as the other runner was passing the alley.
I felt connected, but whoever was on the receiving end absorbed the blow like it was nothing, grabbing my thigh to take away my momentum.
Okay.
Fine.
