My performance two days later is flawless. I can't see him in the audience because the lights are dim, but I know Daniel is watching. I am hyper aware of my moves and my body. I am trying to dance perfectly. I want him to like it. When the performance is over, the audience erupts. Lara and I finished the dance standing next to each other, she grasps my hand excitedly. It's a good feeling for all of us dancers when a dance is flawless like it was today.
As soon as we start walking off stage, the lights are turned on in the audience, I immediately scan with my eyes, looking for him. I see him straight away, he's watching me with a serious expression, but when he catches my eyes, he smiles. I smile back, giving him a little wave. The plan was for him to shadow me on my walk home today, but we scrap that because of Lara. Instead, Daniel drops us both home. I have to admit, I am relieved I don't have to face my stalker just yet.
Two days later, I decide to be brave and teach dance to my student group. A friend of mine has been covering for me in the past weeks, so I haven't seen my little students in a long while.
"We finish at eight" I say, putting on my shoes,
"I'll be there" Daniel says, "ready?"
"I am, but don't go with me now. It's still daylight, there's no need"
"I'm going with you"
Doesn't matter how much I try to dissuade him, he doesn't let up. So I walk to the theatre, seemingly alone, knowing Daniel is watching me from somewhere, following my every move. Nothing happens, when I get to the theatre, I look around, trying to see if Daniel is still around. I can't see him, so I send him a 'thanks' on text. He responds with a thumbs up.
After my class, I text Daniel that I'm leaving soon, he responds with 'I am ready' which means he's already here somewhere. When I step out of the theatre, I glance up at the setting sun. By the time I am home it will be fully dark. I glance around, trying to spot Daniel, but can't see him, so I make my way home. Though I fully trust he's watching, I am still scared to be out by myself. I haven't done it since the attack at my parent's house.
When I get on the bus, I'm thinking if Daniel is still following me from somewhere, I send him a text 'Are you still there?' and he responds with 'yes, right behind you' I glance out of the bus window, trying to spot his car, but I can't see him anywhere at all.
The walk goes uninterrupted, and I am not sure if I am glad or disappointed. I really want the stalker caught. I want my freedom back. But, at the same time, imagining him actually coming at me makes me sick to my stomach. I climb up the stairs to the apartment, and pause when I hear a sound, it's Daniel, climbing up after me.
"He didn't come" I state the obvious,
"He will next time, when do you have your next class?"
"Wednesday"
"We'll do the same thing"
"Okay" we stare at each other for a moment too long. Not for the first time, I wonder if Daniel feels in my presence what I feel in his.
Wednesday goes pretty much the same way. Daniel follows me to the theatre, then leaves and comes back at eight to follow me home. Just like last time, though I know he's there, I can't actually see him. I walk to the bus, take the ride, then get off at the bus stop. No stalker. I start wondering if he gave up on me, maybe he's gone for good, when I hear a loud bang and scuffle behind me. I turn around quickly. Daniel is holding George up by his collar, he raised George's whole body off the ground and slammed him against a building wall, holding his pinned there with both hands.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel yells in anger,
"Let me go!" George screams, "help!" he screams again, Daniel squeezes his collar, George gasps for air, I run over to them. The sight is frightening. George is a tall, large man, the fact that Daniel is holding him up like this is insane. How is it even possible for someone to be that strong, I place my hand on Daniel's bicep, he stops squeezing at George's neck and glances down at me, George is gasping to breathe, but Daniel ignores him,
"Here's your stalker. I told you it was him"
"He is the stalker?" I ask dumbly,
"He was hiding behind the container, watching you"
"To talk to her!" George yells, still struggling to catch a breath,
"Let him breathe, Daniel" I say, trying to pull Daniel's hand away from George, but he doesn't let up, "let him down" I say,
"He's lucky I didn't slam his ugly face in. He's your stalker, Sofia, I'm not letting him go"
"I am not! Let me go! Help!" A few people hear the yelling and watch from a distance,
"Daniel, just let him go" I say, Daniel releases his hold and George falls down, onto his knees. Daniel is about to kick him in the stomach, but I manage to see his intention and yell at him to stop, stepping in front of him. He stops himself from hitting him and crosses his arms around his chest,
"You will find an excuse for him again?" Daniel asks, "This is the third time, once at your apartment, once in your bedroom, and now here. You think that's a coincidence?"
"George, what were you doing here?" I ask George, he stands up slowly to his feet, he's staring at Daniel with fear in his eyes. I never saw George, or anyone for that matter, look that scared,
"I was waiting for you" he says, holding an arm up defensively in front of him, like Daniel might attack him at any moment,
"For me? Behind a container? Hiding?" I'm yelling too, I can't help it, my nerves are working, the adrenaline running,
"It's Nina's birthday at the end of the week! I needed to talk to you without her knowing!" he yells back,
"Why were you hiding then?"
"I didn't know if Nina would be with you or not! I didn't want her to see me!"
"You're lying!" Daniel yells, he makes a movement forward, George raises his arms,
"Tell him to stay away from me!" George screams,
"Do we need to call the police?" a stranger calls to us from a distance, we all look at him,
"No!" I respond,
"Yes!" George yells at the same time,
"No!" I repeat,
"He'll kill me!"
"Tell me, why were you hiding?"
"I told you already!" he screams, "call the police, man! Please!" he yells to the onlooker. I look up at Daniel,
"Was he following me?"
"He was standing behind that bin" Daniel points to a large container behind us, "and was watching you since you got off the bus"
"Why didn't you come out, George?"
"I was about to!"
"Why didn't you text me? Call me?"
"Sofia! Are you really questioning me?" George asks, he looks genuinely hurt, and I immediately feel guilty. It can't be him. It can't be.
"Uh... no" I respond, "I... I don't know?"
"I didn't do anything!" he yells,
"But Geoge, you know that I have some stalker following me everywhere! You know how scared I am to even walk alone, why would you-"
"I didn't do anything!" he yells, cutting me off,
"Yeah right you didn't!" Daniel hisses, I can tell this is about to get out of control. If Daniel comes at him, I wouldn't be able to stop him. The police was called, Daniel would be arrested. No. I have to stop this. I grab Daniel's hand in mine,
"Let's go, Daniel" I say, attempting to pull him towards me,
"Where?" he asks, not moving at all,
"Home. Come" I pull on his hand again,
"He needs to go to prison!" Daniel protests, but this time he allows me to pull him after me,
"We'll talk later, George" I say, walking away with Daniel. George doesn't say anything. I don't wait for him to. The sooner I am away from here, the better.
"There must be an explanation" I say, releasing Daniel's hand when we're far enough from George,
"He gave you one. Do you believe it?" Daniel asks,
"I don't know" I say honestly, "it is Nina's birthday soon, so it's likely he wanted to ask me something, but... but why was he hiding behind a container? Why didn't he just come out straight away?"
"Because he's lying" Daniel holds,
"But then... I saw my stalker. We were standing face to face. His voice was different..."
"But you said it sounded forced"
"It did"
"There"
"But, I am sure I would have recognised George if he was..." I shake my head, "No! What am I even thinking? It's not George. It can't be him!"
"I wouldn't be so sure"