The Awakening

16 - The Watcher

"He watched her move from across the crowded coffee shop. The slight sway of her hips and the way her dress wrapped around her thighs as she walked. He marked her, as she folded her arms around her body in a protective manner, whilst maneuvering herself to the back of the line.

Swiping a loose piece of hair from her face she dug for something in her pocket. He allowed himself to fantasize about her pulling her phone as it rang, answering and hearing the echo of the coffee shop realizing that he was there with her. She would scan the room, looking for him and they would have a moment when their eyes would lock; the lingering look would be followed by a smile before she dashed across the room and into his arms.

Her voice carried over the noise of the room as she spoke into the phone and he sunk back into his seat kicking himself for not having the confidence to speak to her. She was only human after all, and yet like all the others before her, he would put her up on a pedestal as if untouchable. His therapist would often remind him that was his problem, she had given it some clinical term but surmised it to him not giving himself any self-worth.

But how could he not see her for what she was, radiant and glowing.

The first time he had seen her, it was pouring rain outside, the wet and sky making everything dark in its wake. He had been sitting at the same coffee shop, where he was now, waiting for the downpour to let up, whilst sipping coffee. Folded in his lap was some paperback thriller novel, the pacing was off and it had a hard time keeping his attention so instead, he turned it to the street, watching people dash around like little ants. A hot pink umbrella seemed to bring light to the day and covered its owner face, the top pointing towards the incoming rain, keeping out the wind. Matching rain boots were only visible as she entered the coffee shop. Immediately, he was smitten.

He had never been one to buy into the notion of love at first sight, but then she existed. As she dropped the umbrella, she gave herself a shake similar how a puppy would, and it was equally adorable. She had only come in for a hot chocolate before running back out in the rain, a smile on her face radiated, in passing.

It was that fateful encounter that led him to continue coming back to the coffee shop, hopeful to see her again.

Once before they had crossed paths, an accidental encounter and in that moment his mouth could not work or make any of his thoughts into comprehensible words. He had returned home and tortured himself over it.

The anguish ate at his soul, pulling at his temples every time her vision crossed his mind. Her image transcended, imprinting on his being. She was the natural selection - ideal for his work. Even now the thought of her pushed the cobwebs from his mind. How lovely she would look in crimson. His tongue moved over his dry lips, excitement mixed with nervousness.

Now, this would their third chance encounter and she was more lovely than he remembered. Coffee in hand she exited the coffee shop. He told himself that next time his courage would not escape him. Next time she would see him. He would make sure of it.

His heart raced. A film of sweat covered his brow, and he wiped it away with the back of the cuff of his jacket. The loud beating sound echoed in his ears. His eyes looked in both directions but it seemed from the lack of reaction from the other occupants he was the only one who could hear it.

He took a deep breath. There was no need to panic, after all, it was only a matter of time before his fantasy would be a reality.

As long as he planned out everything to the last detail and left nothing to chance, she would be his for the taking. The choreography of the well-rehearsed dance told a story. Boy spots girl across the room, they ensnared the other at first glance and the twisted tango.

The chase was always the best part. The anticipation. The exhilaration of bringing everything together.

He pushed down the nagging scratch at the back of temporal lobe. He could feel the veins pulsing in his forehead, the fluorescent lights obscuring his vision as the ticking and clicking started. The code was silent to all but him and he struggled to keep it in check and stop himself twitching.

He sensed that the day would come when he could control it no more. By then, it wouldn't matter. She would be his. He would have tasted her sweetness and taken what he wanted and then the game would begin. There was no choice. It was a matter of survival; he had to take.

He thought he was alone in his endeavor to seek his prey but someone was watching him watching her.

They sat in the corner, indistinguishable to the throng of people who came and went. Black jeans, All-Star sneakers and black bomber jacket, eyes hidden behind black aviator glasses and a baseball cap concealed most of their hair. Yet their head turned in one direction, fixed on him watching her but no one noticed apart from the security camera that recorded their presence.

She wrote the date and time in her diary, "I love it when a plan comes together..." and slammed the black leather diary shut. The young woman stood up. A strange smile was captured on video as she left the premises.

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Thanks for reading, Kimberley Lieb wrightstory

 and Heather Coyle also known as 

We hope you like this joint profile of ours.

We  have dedicated this chapter to the lovely and talented LLMontez who Kimberley Lieb wrightstory was introduced to at Wattcon Toronto 2017 by mutual friend Amber known as The3dreamers we had a bizarre lunch and never got our tea, so we better get our tea next year.  Next year Heather Coyle h_coyle is definitely joining us.