Forever Watching

The days following their encounter were a blur for May. She couldn't shake the feeling of Will's presence lingering, like an unwanted shadow in the back of her mind. That night, she had gone straight home, her hands trembling as she locked every door and checked the windows twice, making sure everything was secure. She hadn't realized how much she had feared him until after he was gone, the image of his cold, determined smile replaying in her mind.

She didn't want to admit it to herself, but there was a part of her that felt unsettled by the way he had looked at her. He wasn't just some harmless admirer. She didn't know what it was about him, but there was a hunger in his eyes, something dark, something dangerous. But how could she explain it to anyone? Who would believe her? He hadn't done anything truly threatening, not yet. She had to push the fear down, suppress the instinct that told her she should be worried.

But it was hard. The more she tried to move past it, the more the nagging thought of Will's words and actions crept back into her mind.

She couldn't focus at school. She avoided the library where she knew he'd be, and she started taking a different route home, just in case. Every rustling of leaves or footstep behind her sent her pulse racing. She couldn't go on like this.

May spent the next few days keeping her head down, hoping he would forget about her. She made sure to change her routine, walking a different way through campus, staying out of sight when she could. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was the only one she could think of. She didn't want to let him know how deeply his presence had disturbed her. If she could just make him go away, everything would be fine.

But Will wasn't going to let her forget.

For the first few days, he watched from a distance. He stayed just far enough away to remain unnoticed but close enough to track her every move. He studied her movements carefully, analyzing her habits, and the small, subtle changes in her behavior. May was trying to avoid him, and Will could feel it. It only fueled his obsession.

She wasn't as clever as she thought. He could still see her.

Will sat in his usual spot in the coffee shop, his eyes always fixed on the window where May usually sat. Today, though, she didn't come in. She was avoiding the place now, just like she was avoiding him. He knew that, of course. He'd seen her leave the coffee shop days before, walking quickly past the window, her eyes downcast, as though she was afraid of even glancing inside. The thought of her fear thrilled him. It made him feel closer to her than anything else had.

It was time to break the silence.

The next morning, he showed up at her apartment building, standing across the street in the shadows, watching as she left for her usual class. She hadn't noticed him, not yet. She never did. She was always too focused on her own thoughts, too wrapped up in her little world. Will knew it was time to push just a little harder.

He followed her through the city, keeping a safe distance, just close enough to stay in sight but far enough to remain unnoticed. May didn't turn around. She didn't look back. Will smiled to himself. She was so predictable, so easy to read. He had her figured out.

She stopped outside a small bookstore she liked to visit. Will didn't move, standing across the street, hidden in plain sight. He knew she would be inside for a while. The bookstore was a refuge for her, a quiet place where she could lose herself in the world of fiction. Will had seen her in there before, browsing the shelves, the same look of concentration on her face.

He watched the minutes tick by, unable to look away, as if his very existence depended on seeing her. She was so close, but still so far.

An hour later, when May stepped out of the store, her hands full of books, Will was there, just around the corner. He waited for her to pass by before stepping out into her path, appearing suddenly in front of her.

May's reaction was immediate. Her body stiffened, and she dropped the books in her hands. The look of shock on her face was unmistakable, her eyes wide as she took a step back.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Will smiled, stepping closer. "I thought you'd like some company," he said, his voice soft and almost too calm. "I've been thinking about you. I know you've been avoiding me, but I just want to talk."

May took another step back, her breath coming faster now. "I don't want to talk to you. Please, just leave me alone," she said, her voice now shaky, her fear evident.

Will's smile faltered, but he quickly replaced it with something even more unsettling—a look of understanding, as though he could see into the very depths of her soul. "I'm sorry if I scared you," he said, his tone sincere, almost comforting. "I just want you to know that I see you, May. I see everything about you. And I know that you're not happy. You don't have to be alone."

May's eyes flashed with alarm, her body tensing. "I don't need you to see me. I don't need you to fix anything."

"But I already have," Will replied quietly, his eyes narrowing. "I'm already here, aren't I? I've always been here."

Her eyes filled with tears as the realization hit her. She couldn't escape him. She couldn't outrun him.

Will was never going to leave her alone.

He saw the fear in her eyes, and for a brief moment, he thought he could feel it too. But then, the realization hit him—he didn't need her to be afraid. He needed her to understand that she could never escape him. Not now. Not ever.

"I'm not going anywhere, May," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "And I know you'll come to see that. You'll come to see that I'm the only one who truly understands you. Just give me time."

May swallowed hard, her entire body shaking. "Please," she whispered, her voice broken. "Please just leave me alone."

Will didn't respond. He just watched her, standing still as she backed away from him, her eyes never leaving his. She didn't understand yet. But she would.

The silence between them had just begun.