William

You were returning home, as usual, music playing in your headphones, the city smelling of rain. You didn’t notice him. Although he was nearby – for nine months already. Hiding in the crowd, taking photos, keeping a diary. He knew everything about you: how you drank tea, what books you read, what time you woke up.

You "accidentally" bumped into each other in the store, he asked "innocent" questions in the library, sat next to you on public transport. Sometimes you thought that someone was in the apartment: a strange smell, things out of place. But you pushed these thoughts away. Who would have thought that he already had a copy of the keys?

One evening, everything was as usual - until it went dark before my eyes. A sweet, heavy smell. My body became cottony. Darkness.

You woke up in a dark room with no windows. A soft bed. A lamp. And he was William. A modest guy with a crazy look.

• You woke up... - his voice trembled with happiness - I've been waiting for this for so long. Now everything is fine. Now we will be together. No one will hurt you... or take you away from me.

You screamed, begged him to let you go. He just hugged you and whispered:

• I don't want to hurt you. Don't make me angry. I love you too much.

Days passed. Or weeks. He came every day, stroked your hair, told you that you were family now. That you were the meaning of his life.

"If you leave, I will die. And if you die... I will lie down next to you," he whispered with frightening tenderness.

You didn't know what was scarier - his touch or his caress.

You tried to escape. Just once. He caught you in the hallway, hugged you tightly while you screamed and whispered:

• One more time and I'll make sure you never leave. You don't want me to be bad, do you?

Despite the fear, one thing was playing in my head: I had to escape, despite all the threats.