It’s almost 12 at night when I finish my work and leave the office. I start walking towards the metro, hitching my purse higher on my shoulder. It’s too late to call an uber and my car is at the mechanic’s.
The streets are empty and dark. I can barely see past what’s in front of me. The community has been petitioning the district office for years to build light poles but they’ve always been rejected.
My entire body hurts and I can feel a headache blooming. The entire day I’ve been carrying folders and analyzing data. I promise you I could recite the company’s entire financial history. I trip on a random pothole and stagger. I can’t remember the last time I had proper sleep and the tiredness is consuming me.
I continue walking when I suddenly hear footsteps. I immediately halt, turning around and clutching my purse for dear life as if somehow it will gain legs and protect me. There is no one there, just darkness. The tiredness must be catching up to me if I’m hearing footsteps.
I shake my head and continue walking. I hear my stomach grumbling. Working as a financial analyst with tons of student loans involves low income with high work. Honestly, with how my day turned out, I’m probably just going to crash and burn when I reach home. Tomorrow’s the weekend anyway, so probably going to wake up after 12.
I continue planning my weekend when suddenly I hear humming. I turn around and open my purse, reaching for the pepper spray (safety matters). No one is there. The humming was quiet, barely audible, but I heard it. At least I think I did.
I slowly take my hand out of the purse and stand straight. I look around to see if there is anyone there, but nothing. Not even a dropped phone that was ringing. Maybe the lack of sleep really is making me delusional.
I take a couple of shaky breaths to calm my nerves. I fight the tiredness in my body and basically sprint to the metro. After what feels like forever, I reached my apartment. I take off my shoes and flop onto the small couch. I look around my small one bedroom apartment. Dishes and clothes were scattered around–so maybe I’m not the cleanest person–but it felt safe. Until I noticed a window open. I get up and examine it. There is nothing in my house to steal and nothing looks like it has been touched. I might have forgotten to close it this morning? Except I never opened it. I closed it and lie back on the couch, thinking about all the weird events that happened today.
It is like someone is following me, but they don’t really exist. Like a shadow. I laugh out loud thinking about my absurd idea. A shadow following me around. It’s not possible. As I curl up on my couch, too lazy to actually change and sleep in my bed, I fell into a blissful sleep. But I keep thinking it’s not possible. Right?
