Echoes

         Emily’s footfalls ricocheted off the stone walls in the narrow alley. She was certain somewhere in that everlasting echo she heard a pair of steps behind her. She could hear her late mother’s voice in her head now, “the streets of London is no place for a young lady to be walking after dark”. Seriously mum, not now . Emily was not the kind to get paranoid easily. Perhaps it was the night, the slight chill, the waxing moon, a drink or two more than usual.

         Emily quickened her pace without realizing. As she pulled the fur coat around her neck a little tighter, she thought she heard her make believe pursuer quicken their steps. Gooseflesh lined the back of her neck. “Bad things can happen to nice girls after dark, dear”. Okay, seriously, calm down. Stop imagining shit up.  Ahead of her, Emily saw the alley opening up to a wide road. Maybe there would be cars driving by and other people. After all, it’s Friday night in London.

         Now she noticeably picked up the pace. I just want to get home. The sound waves came back louder, the fading echoes overlapping and magnifying the fresh falls of her heeled boots. “Bad things, after dark”. Mum, please! There’s no one there!  She was almost at the opening now. She could hear voices around the corner. “Emily, dear, whatever you do,” Oh God, please not this! Emily was running now. If she slowed, he would grab her before she got out. “Whatever you do, don’t look back, dear”.

         Emily turned. She was breathing heavily through her mouth and she could hear her heart thumping inside her head. And that is all she heard. There was no one there. She took a deep, shaky breath and walked out of the alley.