Sketching the stranger

My name on his lips

I sat on the park bench for twenty minutes after he left,staring at the empty space where he had been.The coffee in my hand was ice - cold now,but I didn't care. My mind was a chaotic mess of "how" and "who".

How did he know my name?

I packed my bag with shaking hands .My apartment was ten minutes away so I decided to walk, maybe It was a dream but I knew for sure it was real.

Taking the walk felt like a nightmare maybe I was hallucinating but I felt like everyone was looking at me,they could see through me.

I didn't stop until I had double - locked the door behind me .My studio- usually my sanctuary felt exposed. I went straight to my phone and dialed Clare.

"He knew my name,Clare,"I said the second she picked up,not even bothering with a hey.

" Wait,who ? The director? I told you ,he's just moody-"

"No," I interrupted, pacing the small space between my bed and study." The man from the park.

" Who ,sorry but I'm not getting you El," Clare questioned.

I narrated everything that happened to the park to Clare.

The silence on the other end of the line was heavy." Okay,that's officially creepy,"Clare finally said ,her voice losing its usual playful edge. " Did you have your ID out? The case that I gave you with you're name on it?"

" Nothing,I didn't carry that case today," I whispered ,looking down at the sketch still open on my desk." I've never seen him before in my life.But Clare ...the way he looked at the drawing ...it was like he was looking through me."

" I'm scared,Clare, " I mumbled.

" Lock your windows and door," Clare warned .I'm coming over after the shoot .Don't open the door for anyone but me."

I hung up and looked back at the paper .He was right - I had missed the shadow .I picked up a piece of charcoal ,intending to fix it,but I stopped.If I finished the drawing, it felt like I was inviting him further into my life.

But as the sun began to set ,casting long,deep shadow across my room ,I realized I couldn't stop thinking about the "detail "he mentioned. He wasn't just a stranger ,he was a warning.

I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until the sound hit me.

Knock .knock.knock.

I bolted upright on the sofa,my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird.The apartment was dark,save for the orange glow of the street lights filtering through the blinds.My mind went immediately to the man in the park.Had he followed me? Did he know where I lived?

The knock came again,followed by the sound of keys turning in the lock.My breath hitched.It can't be happening ,No !No! No! .I mumbled softly.

I scrambled back ,looking for my phone but I couldn't see it ,my hand sweeping across the coffee table until my fingers closed around the only thing I could find: a heavy,metal drawing pen.

I held it up ,my knuckles white.l knew it was stupid, I knew a pen couldn't stop a man like him, but it was all I could reach for.

The door swung open ,and a silhouette stood in the hallway.I stayed frozen ,ready to attack,until the smell hit me first.Pepperoni and grease.

I was very sure the man earlier had a sandalwood scent.

" El? Why are you sitting in the dark?"

It was Clare only she called me that.She was balancing a large pizza box in one hand and a six - pack of our favorite beer in the other. She flicked the light switch,squinting ,squinting at me.Then her eyes dropped to my hand.

"Woah! What are you doing? She asked,looking genuinely confused.

" I...I thought it was him," I whispered, slowly lowering the pen. My hand was shaking so hard I had to grip my wrist to make it stop.

It was then I realized I was holding tears as the started falling continously.

" Hey ,don't worry ,it's just me," Clare said , her expression softening.She kicked the door shut." Sorry I took so long .The shoot was hectic today - you know how troublesome these actors can be.Pure divas,the lot of them."

She put down the pizza and gave me a tight hug until the only thing left was sobs.

" It's okay," I said ,the adrenaline finally leaving my system and leaving me hollow. Actually ,after seeing that pizza,I'm starving .Can we eat first?Before your 'mom mode'activates?"

Clare laughed,but it didn't reach her eyes.

She set the food down and popped two beers.We sat on the floor,the pizza box between us.This reminded of all the time we had done this ,after every heartbreak ,win and just chilling.For a few minutes,the only sound was the chewing and the distant sound of sirens outside.

But I knew it was coming.Clare took a long sip of her beer and leaned back against the sofa." Okay.Talk.What happened today? Do we need to involve the police?Did he hurt you? Did he threaten you? "

" No," I said,staring at the Crumb on the floor.

" Nothing like that.He was...quiet.

"Then why were you holding a pen like it's a switchblade,El?"

Because,"I looked up at her," he knew my name,Clare. I never told him . I've never seen him before in my life,but he knew exactly who I was.

Clare reached out and squeezed my hand,her expression turning very serious. "I mean it,El. I'm always here . I won't leave tonight until I'm absolutely certain you're okay."

I felt a lump form in my throat.This was the Clare I knew -the one who could see through every lie I told myself.

" I'm okay," I lied softly,then tried to deflect. " Actually, I'm tired of thinking about him. Wanna do karaoke?"

Clare eyes lit up ,a mischievous grin breaking through her worry." Karao,e? In this mood ? You know your voice is - you sound like a cat being stepped on when you hit the high notes. "

I laughed,feeling a genuine happiness for the second time this day all because of her." I know, I know. But who cares? Let's do it.?

" That's the spirit," she said ,scrambling to her feet and pulling up a video on her phone. She handed me a hairbrush to use as a microphone. "What song do you want? I'm feeling something dramatic. "

"Our favorite, " I said ,standing up with her." Die with a smile.

The music started- a slow melody. We stood in the middle of my cramped living room ,surrounded by half- finished sketches and empty pizza boxes.We sang at the top of our lungs, our voice crashing and cracking.

"If the world was ending,I'd wanna be next to you..."

As we finished the final chorus ,breathless and laughing, Clare pulled me into a tight hug." See ? Everything is fine.No mysterious guy is going to ruin this."

I hugged her back ,burying my face in her shoulder ,she was slightly taller. I wanted to believe her. But even as we laughed, I found my eyes drifting across the room.

I was already choosing him. I just didn't know it yet.