Secret admirer

You lived a normal life - office, reports, calls. You returned home late, exhausted. You had long forgotten about dates and friends.

You didn’t know anyone was watching. Day after day. He knew your route, the coffee shop, your gestures. He was a shadow. Nameless. Always somewhere nearby. Until tonight.

You decided to go home by car. Night highway, rare streetlights. Silence. And suddenly - the engine stalled.

You hit the steering wheel. There was no connection. It was dark.

Headlights. Car behind. You locked the doors.

A tall silhouette approached. Hood, black jacket. He didn't knock, he just leaned towards the window,

• Is everything okay? Did the car stall?

You opened the window. The voice was calm and low. He looked under the hood. A couple of minutes later,

• Try again, I fixed the terminal.

You turned the key, the engine came to life, you smiled weakly.

• Thank you. Did you...end up here by chance?

• You could say that.

— Have we met before?

“No,” he answered quickly. “But I’ve wanted to help you for a long time.”

He stepped back.

• Go. It's not safe here.

You didn't know that he knew everything about you. That on his screen was your window. Live. That he has a folder with your childhood photos.