Real Encounters

*Asking for my number in the most frightening way*

I finish one of my uni classes pretty late, and I was walking home to my apartment at around 9pm.

Once I arrived in the lobby, I noticed a man following me from behind. I thought nothing of it. I pressed the elevator button and suddenly he turned to me and said, "D-do you know Lily?"

This man looked like he was in his late 30's or early 40's, with a scraggly beard and tattered clothes. He looked deranged, his eyes were blank and he spoke with a stutter.

"I don't know Lily," I replied. It was just us in the lobby.

"I-I-I'm meeting Lily. She l-l-lives here. W-w-what floor does she live in?"

I tried to be polite. "Sorry, I don't know a Lily who lives here."

The elevator opened and both of us went in. I pressed my floor level but he just stood there.

"What floor are you going to?" I asked.

"I-I-I want to see L-l-l-lily."

"You need to pick a floor," I told him sternly. The elevator door opened and I said a nice goodbye to him...but he followed me out into my floor level. "What are you doing?"

He looked confused. "I...just wanted your number."

If I ran to my apartment, he would know which unit I lived in. If I screamed, I would risk him trying to physically quiet me. I weighed no more than 110 pounds. He was not only taller but looked much stronger than me.

I pressed the elevator down button and waited for the next one to come take him down.

"M-m-my name is Maurice. My name is Maurice. My name is Maurice. Maurice," he said. It gives me shivers just thinking about the way he spoke.

"How old are you?" I asked him, still trying to be kind so he wouldn't harm me. He looked insane. He had a twitch, and his unruly hair looked like it hadn't been brushed in months.

"I-I-in my mid-30's."

"Well, I'm 19, so..."

"That's okay. At least you're above 18." He grinned.

"I have a boyfriend." Which I actually did at the time.

"I'll give you my number so you can keep it in your diary during a rainy day. W-when you have fights with him."

"That's not a good idea." I nervously laughed. My patience was wearing thin.

The elevator door opened and I told him to get in.

"I don't know how to go down," he said. He didn't even move.

"Press the L button," I said.

"You need a card to go to the Lobby," he said.

"No you don't!" But the elevator door had already closed. We were both in the exact same position as when we started. I was sweating bullets. I had to be nice. I was weak, tired, and possibly in danger. My apartment floor didn't have a lot of people, so it was eerily quiet.

I pressed the elevator down button again.

"You need to leave," I told him, trying to sound stern but kind.

He started talking to himself, and looked like he was about to explode. I stepped back. The emergency staircase was around the corner, but if I ran down there then he might chase me and I'd be stuck in the staircase. He continued talking to himself and I repeatedly pressed the down button. Finally the elevator door opened and there was a group of people inside the elevator, waiting for someone to get in.

"Go down now," I said. "Right now. You can't stay here."

He hesitated. I wanted to push him inside but all I did was point at the open elevator.

"You need a card to go down--"

"NO YOU DON'T." I f***ing had it with this asshole.

He apologized and slowly went inside the elevator. I ran back to my room, my heart beating too fast I had to catch my breath. It was my last encounter with the guy. I never saw him around my apartment again.

Credits: Reddit, mqnrcxnypvzw868994