The Falling Man

Chapter 22

Ethel POV

As I exit the doors of the pub and go to begin my short walk home I see a man leaned up against the side of the pub. I glance at him not really thinking much of it before I catch sight of who he is, it was the man Frances is seeing I realize as he turns his head and looks to me. I quickly avert my eyes and cross the street heading in the direction of my apartment. I told Fred I had things to do but that was really a lie to leave the pub as he was getting drunker by the minute, undoubtedly more rude things would be leaving his mouth.

My heart beat quickens as I glance behind me quickly and now see the man following me. The walk to my apartment was around 10 minutes. Usually walking home by myself was fine as the area I lived in London was semi-safe. As long as I walked quickly no harm would come to me. But now the 10 minute walk by myself in the dark seemed far too long. I reach into my purse where I have been keeping the gun Alfie gave me and Frances for our pub; I put it in my purse after receiving the letter for safety reasons. I quicken my pace and turn once again to see the man still following me. As it's quite dark out now and there are no people walking in the residential area, I start to panic.

If I run he will most likely chase me and out run me as I am in heels. So I decide to go the other route and completely stop walking turning around to the man. He was either going to follow me to my apartment and confront me there or I could just get it over with. I keep my purse to the side with my hand subtly gripping the gun inside it. I imagine I am overreacting and he just wants to say his peace about what I saw in the shoe store.

What comes next is the opposite of that thought though, he gets closer to me before whipping a knife out of his pocket and pointing it at me. My breathing picks up speed as he walks even closer and closer still pointing the blade at me. I stand my feet glued to the street in fear as he's right in front of me now. He quickly moves the blade to my neck and before I can think I lift my purse and pull the trigger. I see him fall as I quickly run away. I look behind me to see him still on the ground before turning a corner. My eyes are welled up with tears as I run as I have never shot anyone before. I sprint to my apartment before quickly opening the door and slamming it shut.

I throw myself against the door taking deep shaky breathes as the events from a few minutes ago race through my head. I don't think I killed him as I only slightly raised the gun probably shooting him in the leg or lower stomach, maybe even the dick. I start to feel guilty for my actions, maybe he just wanted to explain to me the events I witnessed in the shoe store. No! I remind myself. He held a bloody knife up to my throat, he deserved to be shot. I pace in my apartment with adrenaline coursing through me.
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I went to sleep last night with the frightening interaction running through my head. It took me forever to fall asleep, as I tossed and turned and replayed the man's face as he fell and the feeling of the cold knife against my skin.

You think I would wake up drowsy from the lack of sleep, instead I shoot awake in a panic. Thinking about if the man did survive, he would most likely go to the police and have me arrested. I can't go to jail. I can't. I spend all day hiding out in my apartment half-expecting a loud knock to come at any moment. A knock never comes though. I had a family meeting at Alfies warehouse with everyone tonight to discuss business plans. So I head out of my apartment for the first time today very on edge. Looking around at everyone walking on the streets skittish like they know what I did.

I decide on my walk weather or not to tell my family when I see them. As I arrive I still haven't made up my mind so throw a fake smile on my face as I walk through the doors where I see my family waiting for me. "Hello!" I yell plastering a big fake smile on my face before it falls seeing a familiar face in the corner of the room. It was rodent man. The one who never stopped talking on our blind date. And the friend of the man I shot last night. Why the fuck is he here? "Oh my god." Gertrude states quietly looking at my reaction to seeing him and then looking back to rodent man. Connecting the dots as I had told her about the man and our failed date before.