Short true storys

Short story

Wind blew throughout the February air and the sound of cars rolled over me as I walked under the underpass. Graffiti and the resemblance of a fire laid with empty beer cans sprawled over the concrete walkway. The walk to the lakes was short but eerie. The wind whipped its way through the trees and brush and the water rippled as it came into view. 2 geese were floating about enjoying themselves as birds pecked at the floor. I stop to admire the geese and feel a sense of panic wash over me. You know the feeling when you feel like you are being followed?? Moments before I had made my way to the underpass I had walked past a man. Late 20s to mid-30s with a thin beard and long face. Deep sunken in eyes the color of what grass could be seen under the rubble track, dark hair, and a distinctive dark green windbreaker jacket with red forearms and a baseball cap. We shared a curt nod and smile and continued to walk past each other. Needless to say, his presence gave me a chill through my big winter coat.

As I stood looking over at the geese I slowly turned to look at a squirrel I saw out of the corner of my eye as I walked onto the grassy verge closer to the lake. I must add that the underpass was the only public way to get to the lakes as they were private property and a gate had to be opened at the top of a long winding driveway that is always shut.

Standing by the first lake of the 2 was a man. Head down. Dark green windbreaker... red forearms.. walking on the grass closer to me. He stopped as soon as I looked at him. He had to have been about the length of a swimming pool away from me between 25 and 50m. He had seen that I had clocked him from between the trees. My heart started racing. Why did he turn around? Why did he stop when I saw him? Why was he walking on the grass? So many questions but no time to answer them. I quickly made my way back up onto the concrete path and started following It. I had listened to enough true crime podcasts to know to text someone. I quickly messaged my boyfriend but none would go through. I repeatedly messaged him the word 'Help' to try and get his attention and so he would call me. My pace had quickened as I walked along the path right onto some public property. The message had sent just as I reached a large tree overlooking a large lake with 10 or so geese several ducks and a few swans. There was 2 men on the opposite side of the lake taking pictures of the water dwellers as my boyfriend called me.

"Are you okay?" Was the first thing he said as soon as I had picked up."Yes but" I struggled to get the words out as I slumped against the tree looking round it to see if the man would appear around the corner "I passed this man right" I continued "he had this coat on and it had red lower arms and I think he turned around after I passed him on my way here" I took a breath "I passed him and when I was looking at some geese in the lake I saw him walking on the grass with his head down and I knew it was the same guy because of the hat and coat!" He let me continue "As soon as I saw him he stopped and I walked as fast as I could to the nearest people and there are 2 men on the other side of the lake taking pictures of the geese and he hasn't came through yet. What should I do?!" I take a breath looking around the tree to see if he had appeared while I was on the phone. "Stay where you are okay?" He replied calmy "stay there for 20-30 minutes okay? And if you see him flag the people across the river down to help you if he tries anything" "Okay" I breathed. "Can you stay with me for a few more minutes? Just a few" I ask not wanting to be alone. "Okay baby" he replied and I opened up the book I had been carrying. We talked absent-mindedly for 5 or so minutes before he had to go. We exchanged I love yous and started to read my book.

My attention pivoted between the geese fighting the entrance to the property and my book I continued like this for 20 minutes before a large black lab with a blue-collar strode up to me and pushed its nose against my leg. I cooed hello to it and brought my hand out for it to sniff as its owners came past. A woman who had clearly moved here from Europe started to talk to me and ask why I was on her property. Her what I can only assume to be her husband and or friends 2 large British men walked over to join her. I explained what had happened half an hour earlier and the men both look at each other and offer to walk me back down to the underpass. I politely decline as I don't want to ruin their walk but they say that they will follow slightly behind me just until the public lake comes into view.