You step out of the office at 6:25, straggling behind all your other coworkers who have long since left. So predictable. He’d only been watching you for a week and he already knew your schedule better than you did.
It was late fall, and while you rarely got extreme weather it was pretty reliably drizzly and foggy. It was dark already and the light rain made visibility even worse, but that didn’t stop you. You lived close enough that you always walked regardless of the weather, feeling confident and safe enough to arrive at your cozy small studio where you’d light your candles, slip into your cozy clothes, and heat a microwave meal to enjoy on the couch while zoning out to your favorite ghost hunting show. It was cute to him how far off base you were, never realizing the danger that could lurk in any corner for someone like you. But lucky for you, you had him. You didn’t know it yet, but you had the attention of the biggest predator the city had seen in decades. No one would be able to get close to you without going through him.
He slips out onto the sidewalk walking in your direction. The drizzle is a blessing to him; a good omen. A sign that the fates are on his side. Everyone is always so distracted, even without the rain, but the rain makes people even less aware, too focused on getting to their destination as quickly as possible. Not him though, he is deliberate about everything he does. Nothing is an accident.
*bump*
“I’m sorry miss, are you ok?”
He barely bumped you, but it was enough to startle you out of your thoughts and to force your gaze up to him. Perfect.
“Oh yeah, no problem.”
You smile up to him before quickly averting your gaze and continuing on your way, attributing the heat you felt in your face to the embarrassment of bumping into a stranger, but he knew the truth. He noticed the hitch in your breath and the increase of your heart rate. Your body betrayed you, and it was the confirmation he was looking for.
You’ll learn the truth one day and you’ll accept it, be grateful even. But for now he’ll let you live in your safe make believe world. He will remain a charming stranger, and this will remain a chance encounter. He won’t shatter your reality, yet.