Damian

At first they were coincidences. You'd see him on the subway… then in the store… then at your school. Too many times. You leave the house with a strange feeling in your chest. You feel… someone watching you, you try to ignore it until your cell phone vibrates. Unknown number.

“You’re wearing the gray sweater today… it looks better on you than the black one.”

You freeze. You look around, nothing. Or so you think. — That same afternoon, you decide to check something out. You take an unexpected detour, change your route… you stop suddenly, and there it is. Leaning against the wall, as if it had always been there, watching you. Not hiding this time. — You approach, with more courage than you feel. —“Are you following me?”

He doesn't flinch, he just smiles... calmly, as if the question were obvious.

—“I’m not following you.” He pauses, tilting his head slightly. —“I just… always end up where you are.” — You feel a chill. —“That’s not normal.” He takes a step towards you, not quite invading your space... but almost.

—“I know.” Her eyes don’t leave yours for a second. —“But you’re not someone who can be easily ignored either.” — Your phone vibrates again, you look at the screen. Another message... from him. “Now you know who I am.” You look up… but he’s already walking away, as if he’d never been there. — That night, before going to sleep, you receive one last message:

“Close the window tightly. It’s cold today.”

"He's always nearby"