‘Stanley.’
The mannered male voice at the other end of the line takes me by such surprise that I am petrified, unable to utter a word. I do what any coward would do in this situation: I disconnect the call and throw the phone onto the bed. Then, as I realise what I’ve done, I begin to walk up and down between the bed and the window, pressing my hands over my head, like some i***t. I’ve blown it big time, but I was so overwhelmed by panic when I heard the voice. I must pull myself together, I went through much worse things during my escape and I survived. I shouldn’t chicken out, it’s only a call – I push myself, taking the phone once again into my hand. It rings about ten times, but nobody picks up. Oh, no! I call the number again, and, holding my breath, I’m counting the rings. After the
