Poisonous Obsession

[ THREE: A Day in Shadows ]

Most of Simon's days were the same. It felt as though he was trapped in a monotonous loop, unable to break free. He would wake up before sunrise, take a quick shower and go to the gym, where he worked out, while ogling at women who enjoyed running on treadmills and wearing revealing outfits that showcased all their best assets. Afterwards, he treated himself to a delicious meal at his favourite restaurant and then went for a stroll, taking a long way home. His day would end with him ordering some inexpensive takeout, sitting in the living room, watching low-cost television, and chain smoking before going to bed.

This was his routine, and yes, it was drab. However, he should have stuck to it instead of abandoning it, since there were only five more days left until Simon would get to see you again. Unfortunately, you were stuck in his head, and no matter how much he tried to distract himself, and divert his focus to something else, nothing worked. So, instead, he started spending all his free time holed up in his office.

Initially, he continued to search for your presence on the internet, saving all your pictures, taking screenshots of your posts and snooping on your friends' profiles. When he grew tired of it and struggled to find something he hadn't seen already, he decided it was time to kick it up a notch.

Simon wanted to follow and observe you for an entire day. He believed that by doing so, he would learn about your typical schedule, including when you woke up, where you went, who you spent time with, and, most importantly, where you lived.

At first, he felt disoriented and bewildered, unsure of where to look for you. However, eventually, he realised that revisiting the spot where you first spoke would be a good starting point. Of course, initially, he had to spend two lengthy days traversing all the streets near the coffee shop, keeping his eyes wide and ears open, in hopes of seeing you again, and... Then, one early morning, he spotted you strolling - or rather, running - down the sidewalk.

With each gust of the harsh wind, your hair swirled and twisted in the air, obscuring your vision. Your nose and cheeks were a bright shade of red from the chilly weather, and with every step, you stumbled over your own feet, letting out curses as you accidentally stepped into a cold puddle. Simon couldn't help but notice that you seemed in a hurry, likely running late to somewhere important.

Throughout the day, to maintain his cover and ensure that you remain unaware of his presence and the fact that you are being stalked, he never walked on the same side of the street as you. This way, when you glanced over your shoulder, he had a chance to abruptly disappear from sight. And one time, when he wasn't quick enough to do so, and your eyes grazed by his frame, he swiftly concealed his face and pretended to be deeply engrossed in a phone conversation.

But to his surprise, you failed to recognise him. In that moment, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that you didn't remember him. However, the more he thought about it, a hint of disappointment settled within him. Was he really so easily forgettable? Was he the only one who felt the spark between you two after your lovely conversation at the coffee shop? He refused to believe that. Simon concluded that you were simply oblivious to the world around you, lost in your own thoughts, and that you probably didn't even get a good glimpse of him. Hence, to you, he must have appeared as just another unfamiliar face in the crowd.

Once or twice - Simon had lost the count - absentmindedly, you crossed the street, without bothering to spare a second to look left and right. In those moments, when the cars would zoom past, he wanted to dash towards you, pull you back to the sidewalk and scold you for being so careless.

As he continued to stalk you, a sudden realisation struck him. It was like a light bulb had turned on in his mind, instantly illuminating his thoughts with absolute clarity.