Watching the Grass Grow

“I wouldn’t go if I were you. Not alone that is,” said Betty.

“Yeah,” agreed Kerry-Ann. “It’s just not safe.”

Their eyes were wide with worry. Emily just rolled hers. “What a bunch of wimps,” she thought.

“Those paths are perfectly safe. Besides, this is Bangor, for crying out loud. You act like some creature from a King novel is going to come after me. I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m out in the middle of nowhere. The paths are part of the university. If anything happens I’ll just scream like a banshee and haul ass outta there. No biggie.”

And with that she strapped on her MP3 player and headed out for daily lunch-time walk. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect. A nice breeze, few clouds and late spring temperatures. Perfect Maine weather as usual.

She started on the same route that she and Randy took everyday. “Too bad Randy isn’t here,” she thought. “He would love this weather. Can’t wait to tell him about it.”

As the path wound further into the woods, the trees blocked out most of sun leaving only specks of rays here and there. Emily heard a rustling in the leaves and looked to see a squirrel run up one of the birch trunks. For a second she could tell her heart rate increased; and not because of the exercise. “Those girls have me all spooked. Just settle down,” she whispered to no one.

Emily came to her favorite part of the trail. It was a beautiful lookout showcasing the majesty of the landscape. She couldn’t wait for fall to come. She’d never been on the path in autumn and Randy assured her there was no time like it.

Emily looked at her watch and decided to turn around and cut the walk short. No need to overdo it. Plus she was starved and forgot her lunch which meant driving to one of the many fast-food joints and ultimately ruining any of the benefits of today’s walk.

When she turned around she heard more rustling in the leaves. But it was too much to be made by a squirrel. Emily increased her pace and kept her head up. She began to recall everything she learned in those self-defense classes. After she was mugged in a mall parking lot in Arizona she realized that couldn’t be too careful. Her mind went back to that day in Phoenix and all she could see was that man with the kind eyes asking her for the time. When she looked down at her watch that’s when it happened. She could feel the panic coming back to her and at the same moment a figure stepped out of woods.

“Randy!! Holy smokes; you scared the crap out of me!!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he stated calmly.

“Well you did! What are doing here?” she asked. “I thought you were out for the day.”
“Technically I am. But I thought we should finish our…talk.”

“I told you before. I like you, I really do, but I’m engaged to a wonderful man. I thought you understood that?”

“Oh, I know that’s what you told me. But when I saw you crying Wednesday I knew that you two really don’t love each other. He doesn’t treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”

Emily felt sick in the pit of her stomach. She knew Randy was talking about Wednesday night. She and Sean had just come back from dinner and had a huge fight. She never talked about her personal life at work so there was no way Randy overheard a conversation about what happened.

“Have you been spying on me??” she asked with some hesitation.

“I wouldn’t call it spying. I’m just looking out for you. I love you.”

“Randy, we’ve only known each other for the few months that I started working at the bank. You’re not in love with me so just stop it.”

Emily began to get angry and started to pick up the pace on her walk. She didn’t dare let him know that she was scared as well. There was no telling what he would do if provoked, and she was out here all alone.

…I wouldn’t go if I were you…it’s just not safe…just not safe…just not safe…

The words echoed through her mind as she wiped tears from her cheeks. This couldn’t be happening.

Randy grabbed her arm from behind and spun her around. His eyes were cold and piercing. His grip was getting tighter and tighter. Emily started to scream but Randy slapped his hand over her mouth. Terror overtook her and she began flailing around like a crazy person. She elbowed him in the stomach and that made him loosen his hold but only slightly. Her next blow was a direct hit. Randy released Emily and fell to ground holding his groin, moaning in pain. Emily took off in a dead-sprint down the path. Her breathing was rapid and panicked. She turned and looked over her shoulder to see if her assailant was still on the ground. Emily never noticed the tree root sticking out of the ground.

When she awoke she lay in a ravine unable to move. She tried and tried to even wiggle her fingers but nothing happened. She couldn’t even make a noise to ask for help. She just lay there with her body all contorted, looking up, helpless.

Then she saw him. Her eyes darted and she screamed in her head but nothing came out. He bent down and kissed her, then turned and walked away; leaving her there to watch the grass grow.

Word Count: 944