Fear
I was in a new place. So much had happened to me over the past few years; all I needed was a safe haven. I decided to accept an invitation from a friendāspending a few days in a house far from the urban noise, just me, my friend, and his family, who welcomed me with open arms. After a week there, I felt at peace. The days were short, the nights cold and long, but it was exactly what I needed. For the past seven days, I had followed the same comforting routine: waking up at 7 a.m., enjoying my coffee while admiring the garden, soaking up the morning sun by the pool, and spending the rest of the day going along with whatever plans Paul came up with.
But today, my routine was disrupted. While I was drinking my coffee, I saw a man entering the house through the garden. He didnāt look like an intruderāhe walked with confidence, as if he knew exactly where to go to reach the main entrance. Paul quickly stepped out of the house, greeted the man warmly, and they began a lively conversation. From where I was, I couldnāt hear a word, but the way the man looked at me left me unsettled. It felt as though I were exposed to himānot physically, but emotionally, as if my very soul lay bare before his gaze. It seemed like he was peering straight into my thoughts. Though we hadnāt exchanged a single word, my heart pounded as if Iād just been startled.
Lost in my thoughts and transfixed by his gaze, I suddenly heard a distant voice calling my name. It was Paul, beckoning me to join them. My hands went cold, but I tried to hide my nervousness as I walked calmly toward them. As I approached, the man introduced himself as Erick. I replied, saying my name was Melissa. No sooner had I finished speaking than Paul resumed the conversation. Part of me was relieved, but another part felt even more anxious. Paul explained that Erick had come to invite us to a gathering they regularly held by the lake. Paul attended these gatherings often, and since I was staying with him, the invitation naturally extended to me. What other plans could I have? My attendance was inevitable, as my afternoons were completely subject to Paulās plans.
I still couldnāt understand why this man, Erick, made me so nervous. It had been only ten minutes since I first saw him and just a few seconds since I learned his name. Yet he kept looking at me in that same unnerving way. After Paul finished speaking, I managed a small smile and replied with a polite āYes, sir.ā Then, I excused myself, saying I needed to change into something more appropriate for the occasion. Once in my room, I took a deep breath and sat on the bed. I couldnāt get his gaze out of my mind. My heart was still racing, and part of me felt afraidāall because of the intense gaze of a stranger who was as young as I was.