thoughts on paper

short story

TW- sensitive subjects, viewer discretion advised

I'm walking alone at night.

The stars look really nice, and for once I can name a constellation other than the obvious Big Dipper.

I can see the beautiful twinkling lights that make up the belt of Orion. I love those three little stars. I don't really look for the rest of the constellation. The belt is my favorite part anyway.

The cool breeze tickles my face and I breathe in the night air.

It smells like spring-time honeysuckles. Although that smell always makes me smile, another scent lingers in my nose. 

I can smell strong cologne.

Uh oh.

I glance behind me and I see a shadowy figure trailing after me. My heart beat quickens.

I face forward. I don't dare to look up at the stars anymore. My night of peace is over. 

He doesn't make any noise other than the quiet footsteps that calmly chase after me.

I subtly  feel around for my pockets to find something sharp, but I've left my jacket at the house. That leaves me weaponless.

Wonderful.

I cross the empty street and turn back around in the direction of my home.

Not long after, the figure behind me follows... just as I thought.

I slow down my pace for him to catch up, and I start to whistle a low tune. A lullaby my mother taught me.

My mother.

She taught me so many wonderful things. How to protect myself and be kind to others. 

She told me that I should always put others before myself because sometimes they don't have anyone looking out for them.

I will do that exact thing tonight.

I pick up the pace on the way home and so does the man behind me.

Great.

It's a shame. I was having a nice walk too.

I wonder how many other people he's followed home, how afraid they must have been. The thoughts make me sick. 

Sick with absolute fury.

All the lessons I had been taught as a child come back to me in waves.

We need to help the boys focus, so cover up girls. 

Make sure that bra strap is hidden, you don't want any unwanted attention. 

Boys might get distracted, please call your mom to pick you up, so that you can change that skirt.

Honey, put on a sweater, I can see your collarbones. 

Sweetie, please go to the nurse since your pre-pubescent legs might distract all of these poor animals.

Well that skanky outfit might have provoked him to do that, you know he would never do something like that without a reason.

Oh please, I'm sure you're just wearing that for boy's attention. How insecure are you?

They're animals of course! Boys don't know how to control their primal instincts. 

Well, since they are such animals, I think it's about time they were treated that way.