Today’s story is another one that is inspired from a picture. Read the story and then click the More link to see the picture that inspired the piece.

Liz walked down the street trying to look at every person she passed without trying to look like she was looking at every person. She was was nervous and had to restrain herself to walk any faster than a brisk walk. Normally walking down a busy street in the middle of the day Liz would carry her purse by hanging the straps on her shoulder and allowing the bag to rest between her body and her arm, but she wasn’t thinking straight today. Because of the quickness in her pace the purse had slipped down to rest in the crook in her arm.

Liz flicked the hold button on her phone to activate the screen to see the time. Normally she would put the phone back in her purse but instead she just let her arm rest with the phone staying firmly in her hand. It was 2:57 pm and she wanted to know it was 3:00 pm. She was expecting a call that she hoped wouldn’t come. Liz was wondering down a different part of town than she normally strays hoping the departure from her normal pattern will be to her benefit. After about a block she looked at her pone again, 3:00 pm. She abruptly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and just stared at the phone willing it to turn 3:01 pm.

After a few seconds the screen’s auto off timer elapsed and the screen turned off. Liz blinked a moment, then realized what happened and fumbled with her thumb to hit the button to turn on the screen again. Just then the phone rang; Liz froze. After the third ring she slowly answered the phone.

“Hello?” said Liz.

“Hello Liz. Are you trying to run away from me?”

“Uhh… No. I’m not running.”

“It’s three and you aren’t where you are suppose to be. “

Liz’s heart jumped into her throat. She started looking around to see if she could see the person who she was speaking to on the phone.

“I’m here,” said Liz, “just like you told me to be.”

“Oh you are here, but not where I told you to be and defiantly not dressed up like I asked you to be. I asked you to wear a little spaghetti strap red dress, but your green pleated dress is far from the little red thing you should be wearing.” Liz knew she was caught. He had found her, somehow he found her. With all the twists and short cuts he was able to still stay up with her. She slowly turned round looking at tops of buildings trying to catch her stalker.

“I see that you’ve gotten a hair cut. I thought the curls looked best on you, but this straight messy looks pretty good on you. Now that it’s straight I guess you are right, your hair does go down to your shoulders. Though I like the straight look, the bangs that come past your eyes isn’t really fashionable any more.”

Without thinking Liz combed through her hair, making it even more of a mess. Liz wondered if she should run or what she should do. Maybe if she turned and ran into the department store across the street she could get away before he can catch up.

“Don’t even thinking about running. I can see the thought cross those big beautiful brown eyes. You never have been good at hiding your thoughts. I could always read your eyes like a book. Come now Liz why such the drawn face. You have such angelic features why not enhance it with your pretty smile?”

Liz felt her heart beat increase. She knew that she was caught and instead of dealing with her assailant any longer she lost her temper and started yelling into her phone. “Why do you talk like we use to be together. I’ve never been with you and never will! I don’t love you. I don’t like you. In fact I despise you! Leave me alone.” With this she hung her phone, forcefully threw it in her purse and ran.

She wasn’t sure if she could get away but she didn’t care, she wanted to get away. Instead of bolting into the department store she turned right and dashed down an ally between the street she was on and the next. She could hear foot steps behind her and they were coming in close.

“Stop Liz! I don’t want to hurt you. In fact and I want to just love you.” came the same voice from the phone. Liz didn’t even take a chance to look at who was chasing her. Liz cleared the ally and turned right running into mid day crowds. She was glad that she wore the pumps and not the heels. She wouldn’t have gotten as far on heels. After a few moments she darting through the crowds making their way from shop to shop, Liz started to feel like she got away. She couldn’t hear anyone running behind her or any yelling, just the bustle of the crowd. Her paced slowed and she started to feel the fear seep away.

But he always came back, so she was still being cautious. She saw half way down the block, standing at the intersection, a traffic policeman. Though she felt like she escaped she still wanted to be sure and started to wave down the officer. After a few waves, he saw her and began moving towards her. She decided to explain to the officer what just happened and simply ask to stay by his side for a few minutes till she caught her breath and her friend could come and pick her up. With that thought a smile started to slip across her face.

When she was about 10 paces from the officer a man stepped in front of her and stopped her from walking. He grabbed her upper arms and held her in place.

“You thought you could out run me? I love you and nothing can stop me from being with you, green dress and all. Hey where’s that smile I just saw? Come on love give us a smile”

Re-found fear surged through Liz’s body. She tried to back away but he was too strong and she couldn’t get him to let go. She pulled and twisted but he wouldn’t let go. She was taking in a breath to scream but before she could get a word out he pulled her close to his body and smothered her mouth with his lips. Her scream was muffled, but people around her could see there was a problem and started to step away and make a clearing around them. The many holding Liz just kept his lips pressed to hers, waiting for he to give up the fight, but it didn’t come. What came was a sharp pain at the base of his skull from the baton that the traffic police officer was holding.

The man fell to the ground trying to piece together what just happened before he blacked out. Liz also stunned to be suddenly free looked down at the crumpled man on the ground and then back up to see the police officer she waved to earlier standing there with a baton in his hand. She leaped for the police officer and gave him the biggest hug she could. Now it was the police officer’s turn to be stunned, but after a moment returned the hug. He stood there holding Liz till the crying stopped and she pulled away.

“Thank you so much,” Liz said while trying to control her breathing from crying. “This man has been stalking me for the past 6 months and today I’m sure if you didn’t save me I may not be alive tomorrow.” The officer nodded as he picked up his radio and called for a two squad cars to come and pick up a man who sexually assaulted a woman. Liz stayed with her savior till the first squad car showed up. The traffic officer asked the first squad car to take her back to the precinct to get her testimony then take her home. With the now hand cuffed assailant waking up, the traffic officer read him his rights as the second squad car pulled up, and then promptly threw him into the back seat after informing him, the he was under arrest for stalking and aggravated assault.

As the second squad car pulled away, the traffic officer walked back to his corner and thought, “I guess it isn’t so bad being a street cop. I think I’ll stay put.” He then pulled out his whistle and holding up his hand walked into the intersection and started back to his duty of directing traffic, his break was over.