Page 15 of Texting Dr. Stalker

I had a sudden impulse to stalk inside the house and slam a door.

But a tantrum wouldn’t get Dr Colin Marx off my case.

He was like a rottweiler with an intruder: he wouldn’t let go until an arm fell off.

“Fine.” I huffed. “But one of these days, I’m going to make you regret this.”

“I look forward to it.”

* 5 *

Sailor

Silence is Sometimes Deafening

“OH, GOOD GOD, YOU GAVE ME SUCH a fright!”

Lily’s high-pitched voice sailed through the open back door. I’d left it ajar to let the slowly setting sun spill inside, encouraging it to chase away the shadows and the memories.

Eighty-three-year-old Jim must’ve not only rearranged my fallen furniture but cleaned too. The scents of pine and lemon invaded every room, overshadowing any lingering smell of Milton’s musky aftershave.

I made a mental note to bake Jim two cakes. No,tencakes.

The fact that I couldn’t smell Milton anymore, even in my bedroom, helped keep the awful flashbacks at bay.

Mostly.

I hadn’t been prepared when I’d stepped into my bedroom and saw yesterday play out in crystal detail. How I’d been standing by the window thinking up a new hand lotion recipe, deep in thought, when my neighbour, Dr Alexander North, had strolled into his bedroom, glistening with water droplets, dressed only in a white towel.

I hadn’t been looking.

It was pure coincidence I was standing there when he’d appeared.

Unfortunately, that was when Milton appeared too.

He’d caught me staring gobsmacked and cheeks on fire as Alexander padded toward his dresser. His hands went to the towel. It came undone. I squeaked and went to move, to give him some privacy. Only a fist yanked my head back so fast, I’d fallen to the carpet with one pull.

“So this is what you do all day when I’m at work? Fantasise about your neighbour fucking you?”

His spittle had covered my face.

I’d been too shocked to move.

And then black spots and agony robbed me of the ability to run as he punched me.

“Sorry, that wasn’t my intention.”

I froze as Alexander’s voice spilled like the twilight into the kitchen where I stood, cutting through my memories and giving me something else to panic about.

“It’s all good. I was just coming to hang with Sails. I didn’t know she had company.” Lily’s voice held a hint of suspicion.

“She doesn’t even know she hascompany. I just got here,” Alexander replied. “I figured she might not have anything for dinner, so…”

“You’re being a good neighbour and bringing supplies?” Lily lost all sounds of being wary. “Wow, that’s incredibly nice of you. Come on. I’m sure she’s not far away. That smells delicious, by the way. What’s under the tinfoil? Barbecue?”

A crinkling sounded followed by a gruff, “My friend always cooks too much. We have enough for the entire neighbourhood.”

“Well, that’s handy as I’m sleeping over tonight, and I have to say, it smells too good to let Sails have all of it.”

---