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Leah rushes over to Rob, who is holding his nose and attempting to stem the flow of blood.

“What the fuck was that?” he shouts.

“I don’t know,” Leah replies, “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I’ll get a towel,” she says as she rushes into the kitchen.

She is soon back with a teatowel which she passes to Rob. He applies it to his nose, which seems to have stopped bleeding. Meanwhile, Phil remains unconscious on the ground.

Leah approaches him, “I had better check he is still breathing.”

Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 12” →

Leah and Rob had been talking in whispers while Phil was in the shower. They were both trying to make some sense of the situation. Rob was still trying to hold onto the crazy boyfriend theory, but she could tell that he wasn’t as confident as he was pretending. Leah had the feeling that there was something very strange going on. But what?

“Look, Rob, you don’t know him. He is as straightforward as they come. No wild conspiracy theories, crazy religious beliefs, just a very grounded guy,” says Leah.

“He looks pretty crazy to me,” Rob replies.

“I get it, I understand why you would think that. But this is all too weird. His behaviour is so different to normal. Oh, hey Phil!” she says as she sees him coming down the hallway.

“Phil, what’s wrong?” she exclaims as he charges into the kitchen, barging Rob to the floor.

Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 11” →

The shower feels good. I guess I got used to being wet and frozen but the warm water is beginning to remind me of what comfort is. This is also a chance for me to be alone and not have to talk. I don’t know what, or how much, I should say about last night. Rob’s confidence was shaken by the bird but he is obviously thinking of me as the crazy ex-boyfriend. I can hardly blame him for that.

I close my eyes and begin to attempt to clear my mind, just letting the water flow over my face. Finally, I begin to relax and realise how tired I feel. I think I could lie down in the bottom of the bath and take a nap.

My foot slips and that is that, here comes the sleep I was wishing for.

Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 10” →

“Well, that is some coincidence!” says Rob.

He is laughing and smiling, but Leah doesn’t look so happy. She looks creeped out.

“Oh, my God. The poor thing,” she says as she approaches the window.

The bird appears to be stunned but is moving slightly. I am peering over Leah’s shoulder and scanning the sky to see if any of the bird’s friends are nearby. She looks back at me, her face full of concern.

“Was it just a coincidence?” she asks me.

Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 9” →

It seems the imminent threat of physical assault is over. Rob, the rugby player, has calmed down and seems to see me more as a pathetic specimen to be taken pity on rather than any threat. I am not sure which I prefer.

They have taken me into the house and made tea for us all. We are now sitting in the living room and I am attempting to make sense of this whole thing, whilst also attempting not to look like a madman.

Rob isn’t saying much, but Leah is concerned, especially as to how I found out where she lives.

“It’s not like I was trying to hide from you, but we finished and I thought it was best not to stay in touch. I know I hurt you, so I just wanted to move on. So, how did you find me? Have you been following me?”

Continue reading “Tracks, a short story: Part 8” →