“ I never want to see you again!”
Amy's voice rang out convincingly, but deep down in her heart, she knew it wasn't true. She hesitated for one brief moment to see if he would try to reason with her, but James's brown eyes looked as angry as her steely blue ones.
“ Please yourself!” His tone was polite, but cutting, and she felt despair sweep through her at his deliberate secrecy.
She was determined to be dignified in her anger, as she swept out of the restaurant, her head held high. At least she could keep her pride, even if her heart was in tatters. The tears would come later, when she was alone.
As she crossed the road on this dark wintry night, she turned up her coat collar against the driving rain. Why couldn't he have told her who the woman was when he found them cosily drinking coffee in their favourite restaurant? He had introduced her as Lisa, and she had then made a smiling exit, leaving a lasting impression of perfume and glamour, which made Amy feel usurped.
James had offered no explanation as to why she was there, and Amy found her efforts to hide her jealousy only made things worse.. No wonder it had ended in a row.
Even the rain couldn't penetrate her misery. She had really trusted that man! She was so preoccupied that as she turned the corner, she didn't immediately see the figure in the long grey raincoat. He lurched up to her, hands outstretched , pleadingly.
“ Gimme the money for a cuppa, love.”
She pushed his hands away, and then she remembered at the same time, that it was only last week that a woman had been knifed and robbed in this very street . Until now she hadn't given it more than a passing thought, as James was usually with her. They travelled home from the city together, and then he picked up his car from the station, and took her to her flat. Tonight she would have to travel alone, and she felt the cold fingers of fear clutching at her.
She rounded the corner, glancing back briefly to see if he was following her. Why wasn't anyone else around in this cold and lonely, wet street? But of course, she'd answered her own question.
The figure was following her, huddled in the long grey rain coat. She felt the panic sweep through her. Supposing he wasn't just an old tramp? Her one aim was to reach the station, where there would be lights, and people, and safety.
Fear lent speed to her weary limbs. She could hear his breath gasping, and his eyes were wild and staring. He might be on drugs! Ignoring the blinding rain on her face, and the streaks of blonde hair, which had escaped from the safety of her coat collar, she ran even faster.
Now she could see the welcoming lights of the station, and as she passed through the entrance, she collided with a man in an immaculate suit, carrying a smart brief case.
“ Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you!”
He smiled politely . “ You look very wet. It must be raining hard out there.”
Out of his brief case came his umbrella, and feeling safe whist he was standing near to her, she took the opportunity to look down the street, which now appeared to be empty. Whoever he was, her follower appeared to have gone, and she felt the relief course through her, and she stood still, allowing herself to regain her breath. She warned the man.
“ You need more than an umbrella. The wind is blustery too!”
He smiled his thanks to her, and at that moment, she saw the train approaching. She hurried towards it, anxious now to get home. As she climbed in, she thought she heard him again, and her terror returned. She moved along the corridor, looking for a compartment with more than one person in. She found one with a family, and sat herself opposite the mother. After plucking up the courage, she whispered. “ There's a man following me.”
The woman stiffened.” Oh no, where is he?”
Amy stuttered nervously. “ Somewhere on the train “.
The woman drew herself up in her seat. She was tall like an Amazon woman, and strongly built. Any man tackling her would be bound to come off worse!
“ You could always pull the communication cord.” she suggested, and Amy looked longingly at it, but then remembered there was a fine. She could be wrong. Imagination was a dangerous thing at times. She made a supreme effort to be calm.
