A Piece of Your Heart

was going. Or rather,

around by the stranger, instinctively trusting him with my safety desp

ody from fear and anxiety. I kept getting tempted to turn my head to see if we were still being fol

somewhere, a corner where there was a 24/7 convenience store nearby. From my peripheral

that I hadn't reali

safe.

wrist. He was panting al

e running that my body leaned forward while I gripped my knees, gasping

ng away, and I was finally sta

n my posture, the stranger's

you o

th his gentle, scholarly look, I figured that he had a soft

back, I finally got a g

sy from the run just now, his glasses were slightly crooked, and a few beads of sweat rolled down the sides of h

a charming smile, his clear blue eyes almost taking my breath away with their b

I could only thi

credibly ha

" I said b

use I ran so hard. I didn't know and I

od..." He swallowed, seemingly trying to calm himself down from

to be sorry about. Please

narrow escape from danger, possibly even a close brush with death. I felt nothing

very important. "That-That woman... we should call th

" the man said quickly.

.. Yo

ause I had to take a look at the license plate on their van. I repor

y get there in ti

anything else right now. I gave the operator my number before I stepped in

aying that the poor

re wasn't anythin

plate. That would probably help

about towards you," the man stammered, nervously

zled. "Wh

he said quickly. "I've been... following

...Excu

using him to look much younger than his age. "I just wanted to make

. "How would I know tha

rt of new tactic to lure vulnerable women like me into a trap? He was a str

wor

the mere th

lready knew

a form of surrender. "I'm sorry... I was just worried about you," he said. "I mean..

s. "That's not yo

very sorry, truly. I know I'm someone you just met, but

ha

ink he looked familiar, but I couldn't quite p

arch for any sign of deception, but I

other people well, but so far, th

in, but he did. He even took me to a public place, and I knew that a c

a moment before final

rst, we should go inside," I offe

rection where I was poin

mmering in boiling water on the table before us. He wanted to pay for the food,

for me not to repa

sensing that I was stubborn w

off his coat and setting it dow

, I took this opportunity to ob

rson, which was a little puzzling since he looked a little older than I was. Maybe he was actually you

h but also trendy, but at a closer look, he was wearing a silver necklace around his

wrapped around his middle finger. The craftsmanship was intricate and e

the center of each ring. One stone was a deep, rich blue, w

detailed and beautiful, which made me think that

t to myself. 'What does he re

the strap of my bag. "When