𝑨𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒔

     Opening the curtains in my bedroom, I pick up the Nikon binoculars I bought today and raise them to my eye level. Then I look into the lens. I see everything and everyone. I see Anna’s house. Their lights are off, so I’m guessing they’ve gone to bed. Ms. Gillian is already sleeping. I saw her to bed after having dinner with her.

     The Parkers’ are in today. They’ve been away on a holiday trip to someplace I don’t know. Their car is parked across the street in front of the house. It’s nice to have them back. The neighborhood feels complete today. Emma comes out of the house wearing suede jeans topped with a blouse. Her hairstyle is a long pixie cut, and her hair is white blonde.

     Emma is Jake and Liam’s little sister. They’ve been in this neighborhood for a while. I don’t remember how long, but I do know it’s been very long. The three siblings constitute the Parkers; what I mostly call them.

     Emma looks tired today. I don’t blame her. Who wouldn’t be after staying away from home for months? If she’s out this late, I know she’s out for a smoke. Emma is a chronic smoker. I’ve talked her out of it, telling her the effect heavy smoking had on the lungs but to no avail. She’s become addicted—I don’t doubt it.

     I wonder why women too smoke. Growing up, I knew men to be heavy smokers, at least that’s what I mostly saw when I was a child, so it baffles me when I see women smoking. Don’t they cherish their lives? Well, that’s none of my business. God knows I did my best to advise her.

     She sits on the porch. As expected, she brings out a box of cigarettes, takes one, and lights it. Then she suits herself, polluting the atmosphere.

     I shift the binoculars away from her view and focus on why I’m here. The tree.  I’ve been standing here for an hour now, but this stalker isn’t showing. Or perhaps he isn’t coming today.

     I sigh in boredom and place the binoculars on the window sill. This is pointless. I’m starting to think that I hallucinated, and I’m making this all up. What a complete psycho I am!

     Tucking my hair behind my ears, I sit on the window sill and slouch. I know I’m not crazy. I truly saw that man, but I just can’t prove it. Worse, I can’t tell Jeff I saw him again. He’ll finally decide to lock me up in a psychiatric hospital if I do. The engine of a car purrs, snapping me out of my thoughts. Jeff’s home! Quickly, I grab the binoculars and run toward the bed, placing them under it. Then I breathe in and out, preparing myself to meet him.

     He’s late again. As the thought ebbs in, I realize he’s always late nowadays.

     I remind myself he’s a businessman and unlike me, he’s got loads of work to finish. Sighing softly, I rush out of the bedroom and go downstairs to meet my husband, who feels like a stranger I’ve been living with for the past eight months.