Her first, her last, her only

Chapter 3

Christmas Day was like any other day for Julia. She got up, ate breakfast then spent the day studying. University life was hard, more so than when she was an undergraduate. As well as her research, she had classes to write and prepare presentations for. She had marking from her classes as well as the work for the additional undergraduate degree she'd opted to study for. Study also stopped her thinking about everything she was missing. Everything being her mum.

She sat at the dining table which was by the window in her living room and from the 3rd floor she was able to look down on the world below. It was surprisingly busy for Christmas Day, lots of people walking around, families out and about. She felt the tears well up as her mind cast back a year. Although her mum's back had given out she'd tried her hardest to give Julia a happy Christmas. Tommy had spent a lot of the time away, gambling and Julia had paid for the food as her mum had handed over all her money to a man she loved but who just abused that love.

Her flat was small, unsurprising given she lived in London where land was at a premium. The main thing for her was that it was hers. No one came in unless she buzzed them in through the intercom. Most of the people living there were young professionals, busy earning money in a range of high powered jobs. It was perfect for Julia, it was within walking distance of the University and there were shops nearby so she didn't have to go far for anything and more importantly she was left alone.

After finishing her lunch she went back to studying, eventually giving up and going to bed around 11pm. She made her way round the flat before she got into bed. Her experience of Tommy and his friends meant she doubled checked all doors and windows were locked. She really wanted a chain on the door but the flats management company declined her request, stating that the security in the building was good enough. She had a peep hole so she could see who ever made it to her front door and it was sturdy enough to withstand a battering.

Julia still felt unsettled. A couple of times she'd awoken in the morning convinced she could make out the faint traces of a woodsy cologne. She'd checked her flat and nothing was amiss. There was no way anyone could climb up 3 storeys and there was no balcony to aid someone intent on breaking in.

Julia wasn't sure what woke her but instinct told her to keep still. She silently berated herself for having black out curtains as her room was pitch black. She lay still, trying to hold her breath and then let out an involuntary gasp. She heard someone breathing in her room, she was not alone.

Julia lay frozen in her bed, her heart pounding in her chest. Her brain was in overdrive, should she scream, should she switch the light on and see who it is, should she try and bluff it out and hope who ever was sat watching her would go away.

"I know you're awake Féileacán. I can hear your breathing getting faster."

Julia knew that voice, it has been seared into her brain the night of her mums death. She couldn't speak, her mouth felt like the Sahara.

She heard movement as he got up from the chair she had in her bedroom. The lamp on her dressing table was switched on and she blinked owlishly in the bright light as her eyes adjusted.

She sat up in bed, her back pressed against the headboard, clutching the covers to her neck as she watched Callum Tiernan walk softly towards her. Her handed her a glass of water that he was carrying and motioned for her to drink it.

Julia looked at the glass suspiciously. "It's just water." Callum took the glass and took a sip, handing it back to her.

Julia's breathing was laboured, and she had to release her death grip on her duvet to take the glass for him, the expression on his face telling her not to refuse. She took a tentative sip and when she couldn't detect anything amiss she drank it down.