The Light in her night

nt

have ta

a dozen times as I turned

s that left more darkness than light. My footsteps echoed too lo

ring, It's fine, Cynthia. Just

y didn't b

ent behind me made

ong stretch of road and an ol

, forced my leg

h

voice c

se stu

nswer. I k

arper. "Don't be

g tightened. My

ootsteps quick

mped aroun

so hard it h

ellow teeth. A baseball cap pulled low.

" I whispered, my v

e shadows, taller, broader.

fast it felt like

man's grip only tightened, draggi

outed, but it

. "Look at

. "Just relax, huh? We're

d much made my

scream, but t

alm. Low.

her

stiffened

eck. That's w

hands loose at his sides like he wasn't even worried. A dark jacket zipp

eered. "Mind you

dn't move. "I w

tep forward. "Or what?

stepped int

sure. Like someone who had alr

way," h

The first man's hand twitched on my elbow.

strang

a

tep, a gra

ho held me was on the pavement,

froze when the stranger squared his

le. The second man backed up, cursing und

e at last. My hands

found mine. Dark, st

fast. "N-no. I

he street like he expected th

y voice

do yo

s... that wa

once. "I'l

now anything about him. But my legs felt l

odd

My heartbeat slowly settled but

u," I fin

ave to," he

didn't ha

d toward me. "T

't even

re in t

ious. Like there wasn't an

umbled with the latch,

got it open,

your name,"

second. Then

t steadier now. "I don'

have to," h

out a small card - my weekend

ed..." I didn't even

ing at my name sc

ght, Cy

ght, Ra

the gate, and leaned ag

ed, he was

-

r behind me and

out the whole world with one body. My breath came

uch and hugged myself. My

ome. You

wouldn't bel

ed me. No bruises, no cuts - jus

buzzed on

ny

home

ck with cl

Ye

ything

ted, the

t re

then disappeared. Seco

d let it ring. I

ed to my chest. My eyes stung, but I

y mind. Standing so calm, like nothing could t

him my card? Wha

in me whispered. Because you did

and finally let

or startled me so hard

again. Plea

oor and peeked thr

ny

t knocked me

ned i

scanning my face immediately.

m f

n't loo

me before I

The sob I'd been holding sin

whispered again

eathe. Just b

sit, then slipped into the kitchen

ce and stared

e men," I said.

dn't f

ened. "Did th

one stopp

ned, grateful and wo

nd. I don't e

er head. "Do y

ow. But he was

d squeezed my hand.

he word safe st

-

ym

table, its edges ca

ut hesitant - like she'd s

and stared at the photo beside it: my mother, y

bed m

't have got

oice on that street... when I saw the way she froze like life had al

over again. Her

hone, thumb hoveri

n'

he phon

an anymore. I d

-

nt

ouch. I woke sometime after midnight, bla

wake up. I'm stay

hest and whispere

feel like you stepped out of the d

ain before I cou

-