Time stood still

Her heart rose into her mouth and she froze.  The steady grumble of the engines receded into a black silence. The gentle rocking of the half full ferry moved her body but she felt nothing.
“This is wrong” screamed her inner voice. “Stop it! Go away”
The dour business men heading home heard nothing, lost in the study of their newspapers. The rowdy school kids teasing each other remained engrossed in their banter. 
And no one had paid attention as the slightly drunk man in a dishevelled suit had staggered along the row of seats and sat right next to the girl. Very close. The smell of stale beer oozed from every pore of his oily skin. His greasy hair half hung across his face.  He could be her father.
He leaned in to her, thigh to thigh, eyes wandering. “Hi love. On your way home are you? I’m happy to give you a lift when we get to the terminal”
The girl was torn in two. Her mouth, of its own accord, muttered “No thanks. I’ll be fine”. Her inner voice screamed “Go away!”. She tried to calm her fears. If she just stood up and moved away, it would appear rude. “What am I thinking? He’s horrible. I have to get away.”
She felt his arm move around her shoulders as his stinking body odour rose into her nostrils. She shivered involuntarily. “Cold are you love? Here, snuggle up a bit closer” he said as he pulled her to him. His other hand rested on the top of her thigh and he gave her a proprietary pat.
Enough. The girl stood and snatched at her school bag. Books and paper tumbled out as she tore it up above the crowded seats. Snagged, she just let it fall and stumbled up the centre aisle. A few people glanced at her. One business man glared over his newspaper, “Watch out kid. Where’s your bloody manners?”
Her skin prickled as she looked back to see the man staggering up to follow. The ferry was approaching the small jetty so she pushed through the passengers getting ready to disembark. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ferryman preparing the ropes to tie up as they came along side. “Whoa there. You’ll have to stand back a bit please.” Smiling, he gentle pointed back behind a line marked on the deck.
The girl staggered, slightly off balance as the ferry nudged the wharf. As soon as the gangplank was down she fled up the ramp. Like a frightened creature running from a hunter, she plunged blindly through the terminal building. Spying the ladies toilet, she dashed in and with fumbling fingers locked the door. Mocking graffiti stared at her as she slid down the wall and sobbed.
Time stood still. There was nothing. There was everything.
Eventually the girl stood. Pale, she walked out cautiously. She knew her father was waiting in the car park to drive her home. That became her goal.
Her Dad smiled as she opened the passenger door. “Hi Pumpkin. Did you have a good da… Hey - Where’s your school bag?”Her heart sank. She would never explain. How could she explain?
As she went to step into the car she heard the sound of feet running towards her. On edge, she glanced back to see the ferryman from the wharf hurrying towards her.
“Hey there! I think this is yours.” He looked her firmly in the eye, as he passed her the school bag. “You take care now. Be strong.”


A short story (598 words) - An exercise in creating tension. I have not written in this style before and I am interested in your (gentle) feedback especially in use of dialogue, pacing and how it may or may not have captured your interest in the characters.
Thank you