Delilah and the Demon

The Sighting

From the end of the pier I saw her standing, the lake tumultuous behind her. Her red skirt dancing in the breeze, her black hair twisted into a knot. For a moment she saw me and it took my breath away.
Fear enveloped me. I ran. I ran as fast and as hard as I could. The cold rain stung my face and eyes. I didn't stop running until my front door was safely closed and locked behind me.
I hid in the bathtub shivering, more from fear than cold though my clothes were soaked through. It would only be moments now.
I listen. I listen so intently that the pounding of my heart is deafening.
I hear the locks click on my front door and my breath catches, the door opens and closes, I am sure that my heart stopped beating in anticipation.
With a clink of keys and my mom's voice calling me I inhale confused and even more afraid. My mom shouldn't be here for this.
"Delilah?" She calls again, her voice traveling down the hall to me. Maybe I just imagined her at the pier?
"Sweetie, are you home?"
"Yes" I squeek, then once more louder. "Just getting in the shower." I stand and disrobe, fumbling because my fingers keep slipping off the buttons. I let my wet clothes fall to the tile floor.
The hot water feels good and my shivering subsides. With every moment that passes I am more convinced that it was my imagination. After all no one has survived this long after seeing her.