Chapter 3

Lena

I have been waiting for Max to text me for four days. How busy was he? I was impatient indeed.

I really wanted for the cover to be done and ready to be uploaded along side my story, but also I wanted to see him again, He was very nice and very pleasant to be around. 

And I finally got a text, Friday I'm free.

It was more like a statement, rather than a friendly text. But it would suffice. I was getting nervous even for these small social interactions and that wasn't great, wasn't it?

It was only Monday. Bah! I was getting very impatient indeed. I was quick to reply,

Great. Let's say around 19:00?

Alright

He isn't a great texter, but who was I to judge, I laughed with myself. 

Can we meet at Sunset Park on Bridge Street, near the picnic area?

I suggested because it was my favorite park and I knew a few places we could take great pictures at. My phone camera couldn't really provide me with the result I wanted without good lighting anyway, 

Sure. I'll see you there

See you there :)

Maybe I didn't need to put that smiley face, he wasn't my friend...

Although, I liked how he didn't shorten the words like people do these days. Cya, btw, brb and so many more.

"Who texted you?" Antony asked mischievously. 

"My landlord, rent is due Monday" I lied as I took a sip from my cup of coffee. 

"Liar!" he replied as he exhauled a puff of smoke. 

I laughed nervously. 

"Can we change shifts on Friday?" I asked him. 

"Why?" he teased. 

"I have a doctor apointment" 

"No you don't, what's his name?" he kept instising and I couldn't stop the laughter. 

"Doctor Shallik" i kept laughing. I was a bad liar with Antony it seemed. 

"Alright, we change shifts but..."

He asked a million questions after these, since having a 'date' with a guy was probably written on my face. I tried to dodge his curiosity and we had a laugh about it. 

"You are so secretive, Lena" he added. 

I laughed at that comment again, but he was right, I was. Since always. 

I had no idea why. Would it be so bad to tell Antony the truth? Probably not. I wasn't doing illegal things. I never even told him about my writting hobby. 

"Our break is over. Let's go back to work. Thank you about Friday" I kindly said to him and he winked at me. 

So, on Friday I would have one hour and a half to get ready between work and my date with Max. Appointment, not a date! Damn it!

One hour and a half will suffice to get myself ready, honestly even twenty minutes would...

                                                        --------

Friday was finnaly here! I did count the days like a soldier.

I drove to my usual  gas station after work to use their bathroom. I liked the owners, they  never asked me any unconfortable questions and they allowed me to park for the night a couple of times in the past.

Getting myself clean into small and sometimes dirty bathrooms, it was a skill I mastered through the years.

I put on my only clean white T-shirt and a pair of black shorts. I kept reminding myself that I need to do some laundry.

I got ready so fast that I had thirty minutes to spare. I decided to go to the park and wait for him there anyway.

As I walked towards my car, I had a weird sense crawling up my spine. I frowned my eyebrows and turned behind me to check. I was always alert when I walked alone. There was a guy behind me but I kept going. The feeling wouldn't go away, so I looked behind me again more thoroughly. 

The man was walking a few steps behind me. He was in a black suit, with a white shirt, and a black tie. He seemed that he was looking at me. He was wearing a red baseball cap that didn't match his formal outfit. 

I stopped walking and turned to face him.

His black shoes shinned as if he had rubbed some polish on them a few seconds ago. The cap covered his eyes, creating a dark cloud beneath them. His mouth twitched strangely, as he kept walking closer to me, like a nervous tic. Nothing I haven't seen before...

Damn. I knew we would attack me right after I unlock my car, I have seen this happen too many times. My heart went wild.

The feeling of being so close to danger would never grow on me, no matter how many times strangers have attacked or robbed me. It would always be traumatizing.

I stood my ground, I wouldn't show fear. His mouth shaped a smile and showed me his perfect set of teeth. He was very skinny and tall. 

No one was around me, but if I screamed someone from the gas station would come.

"You don't have to do this" I calmly suggested like I was his teacher. He stop moving and looked at me confused. I quickly opened my wallet and tossed him a twenty euro bill near his feet and raised my hands in the air, trying to show him that I didn't want any trouble. I've seen people do that in the past and sometimes it worked.

Oddly he ignored my gesture and ran away so fast behind some trucks on the other end of the gas station. Like I said the magic words and he disappeared! 

It took me a minute to realise that I was probably no longer in danger. I quickly picked the bill from the floor and hastened my pace towards my car. My heart was racing still, but I played it as cool as much as I could. I was fine, it was fine! I kept telling myself. 

I unlocked my car and opened the door. Before I could close it behind me and feel safe again, I saw two hands grabbing my door, and that creepy guy forced himself inside. Where the hell did he come from?!

He yanked me by my hair and tossed me to the ground forcefully. The impact was harsh...

"Hello angel" he whispered and I felt my skin crawl. His brown eyes were wide open and locked on mine. 

"Fuck you!" I yelled while he stood over me ready to jump on me. Cursing never helped anyone, but I couldn't help it. I wouldn't show fear! Even though I was about to faint out of it. 

He dropped quickly to my level and grabbed me by the neck. He squeezed my throat hard before I could cry out for help. His grip was so hard and powerful that I couldn't breathe...

His eyes still wide open, staring wildly into my soul. I tried to break free but I felt I had no control over the situation. He was stronger than me. 

Holy fuck was I going to die?! I panicked!

"So pretty" he whispered right into my face, while his hands were grabing my neck tightly. His breath had a mint scent mixed with tobacco.

He kept me on the ground by force, but he seemed so amateurish about it. He let one hand loose and tried to get something out of his pocket. A knife? 

Strangulation or stab to death? Or even both? More panic filled my brain, as I felt hopeless.  

I fought to escape his grip, my survival instinct kicked in and I looked like an amateur myself as well. I had no physical strength. His hand was iron-strong on my neck and it was so strange because he wasn't the bulky type. 

Right before I didn't die by being choked to death, the guy stopped abruptly and ran away, leaving me on the floor gasping for air. I heard two voices from behind coming for my aid. I tried to steady my breath, while they helped me stand.

Everything happened so quickly!

"Are you alright?" one guy asked.

"Yes," I tried to sound like it "Thank you" I added breathing fast. I needed a few minutes to adjust myself. 

"I think you need to go to the hospital" one guy suggested.

"I'll be fine" I coughed. 

"I'll call the police," said the other.

"You don't have to. He's gone now, they can't do much about it" I struggled to say that phrase. I quickly entered my car, like I was running away from those two nice guys. 

"But ma'am you don't seem alright" 

"Thank you for your help," I managed to say before I closed the door behind me. I immediately locked the car and got the hell out of that parking lot, like a was a speed racer. 

"I can't belive I'm still alive" I breathed. 

That weirdo could have easily throw me out of the car and drive it away. He could have grabbed my bag and run. He could have kicked my ass if he wanted to. He could have even raped me if he tried! But why didn't he? Didn't he have enough time?

What a creep!

I shook my body to release the tension while I was driving. I was about to burst into tears but I swallowed hard to avoid it. My hands were trembling.

"You are fine!" I yelled to myself "Nothing happened! You are FINE!" I added screaming. 

I drove mechanically for a few minutes and then I remembered that I had to go to the park. I totally spaced out. 

Nothing happened, I was fine. I kept repeating to myself silently like a mandra. 

I parked close to Bridge Street and felt like I had no mood ot the energy for anything. I took a few deep breaths and checked my neck through the car mirror. I saw beautiful purple spots coming on the surface of my skin quicker than I thought... great I fucking bruise like a peach!

I also had a few scratches on my hands and legs but they were very minor. Visible though...

I cleaned myself up with water and antiseptic wet hankies, which I kept in my medicine container on the passenger's seat.

I would go to my damn meeting with Max, I would take the stupid photo and go straight to sleep and forget everything that happened today. I might looked like a mess but I was stronger than this.

I shouldn't cry! No fucking crying!!

I took a deep breath and went outside the car; My hands were shaking still and my agoraphobia rose like the mother fucking sun!