Just a Girl

Emily walked down the sidewalk just outside her neighborhood as the bus pulled away. She had just gotten off work at the local grocery store and she was exhausted. She couldn’t decide if she wanted to veg on the couch or just go to bed. It was late and the streetlights didn’t do much to light her way home. She pulled her coat tight around her small frame as she walked even though the night was still warm. Her coworkers had been telling her stories about escaped convicts and robberies in the area, even though they knew how paranoid she could be. She knew they just liked to see her squirm, but she could help but feel like something was off. As she walked past an alleyway she heard a clank of a garbage can lid. She paused as she put her hand into her purse searching for her mace. Walking faster as she found it and gripped it tightly, she passed the alley and turned the corner. “Why am I so paranoid?” She asked herself out loud, stoping to letting go of her mace and taking a deep breath. She pushed her messy blond hair out of her face. She could see the roof of her house, she was almost home. “Being paranoid sometimes is all that keeps you alive.” Said a deep voice behind her. Emily spun and screamed as she reached back her purse for her mace again. She fumbled grabbing it but paused as it rolled away when she saw who had spoken, her scream echoing off the buildings around them. Behind her was a tall slender man with dark wild hair and too large clothes that looked like they had been through a toaster oven, with singed holes in several spots where she could see through to other layers of stained clothing. He seemed to be giving off smoke from his body that slowly disappeared into the night. They stood there staring at each other for several moments in silence. “Um, sorry for screaming… but you startled me...” Emily said hesitantly. “I didn’t realize anyone was around.” The man just stared back at her with piercing blue-gray eyes, like he was trying to remember something important. “You ok?” Emily tried again. “What happened to you? Do you need to call someone?” The man looked around the street at the small houses and pitiful yards like he was just realizing where he was but without recognition. His lips parted like he was about to say something, then his eyes snapped back into Emily’s as he seemed to remember something. Emily jumped a little and started thinking she should look around for her mace again but didn’t want to take her eyes off of him. She started reaching down in the direction she thought it went while keeping her eyes on him in case he decided she look vulnerable or something. His eyes didn’t leave hers as she bent and started feeling the ground. “Look, I don’t want any trouble, ok?” She said trying her best to keep the her voice from shaking. “Emily,” he said quietly, like he knew her. She froze with her hand outstretched toward her mace she had spotted in the corner of her eye. “What!? How do you know me? Who are you?” She demanded as she straightened up forgetting about the small bottle still rolling away. The man’s clothes blew gently in the breeze, extinguishing the last of the still glowing embers off his coat. He took a deep breath as if to brace himself. “Emily, I’ve come for you.” He said in a strong steady voice. Emily gasped, even more confused. But before she could ask more questions the man stumbled forward and slumped into her arms. Emily slumped to the ground with the strange man, careful not to drop him, and rolled him off of her. He smelled of burnt fabric and sulfur, his clothes seemed to be done smoking though. She stood up and surveyed the scene. There were very few lights on in the nearby houses and no cars on the street. No one seemed to hear her scream or notice this small strange seen. She seemed to be the only witness of this strange man. She went through the events in her head. She searched through her memories of former classmates or relatives that would match his description but came up blank. Why was he here? Where did he come from? Why does he know her? The man lay there with his eyes closed as if he was dead. She hesitantly reached down to touch his chest to check if he was breathing. His cheats moved steadily up and down. He was surprisingly muscular under the baggy clothes. She glanced up at his face shaded from the closest street light by her body. She moved slightly to the side and let the light hit his face. He had a strong jawline and handsome features, couldn’t have been much older then her. His eyes started to flutter, she backed away again as he opened his eyes. “Emily?” He asked looking around for her. “I’m here.” She answered, uncertain why she was. Any other time she would have run for it and called the police. But this man seemed confused and hurt. His eyes found her and he gave her a sly smile as he tried to sit up. His smile made her stomach do a flip. Somehow he seemed familiar though she couldn’t place his face. “I’m so glad I finally found you.” He started weakly as he struggled to stand. Emily hurried over to him and supported his wobbly stance. “We should move.” He whispered, “you never know who is around.” Emily looked around at the deserted street confused who he imagined would be listening to them or care about what they were doing or saying. Somehow she felt she could trust this man and she decided she would help him out. Partly because she was curious who he was, she needed answers. She adjusted his arm on her shoulders and turned him toward her house. Moving slowly down the quiet road, leaving the forgotten mace can in the gutter.