"Really?" I forced a smile. "Teacher said you drew a man?"
"Yes!" Her blue eyes sparkled, completely unaware of the seriousness of this topic. "I drew the gentleman in the garden! He always watches me and Mommy."
My spine went cold, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Where does he usually watch you from?"
"In the garden." She turned around, pointing toward the public garden outside the kindergarten. "When I play in the yard, he stands over there."
I followed her finger's direction. It was a small garden connecting to the kindergarten's side entrance. A few large oak trees, some benches, and neatly trimmed shrubs. Empty now.
"What... what does he look like?" I tried to make my tone sound like we were playing a game.
Stella tilted her head, her little hand under her chin in seriousthought. "I can't see clearly. He always stands far away, and he's very tall, like a giant, even taller than Uncle Marco."
Like a giant, taller than Marco. God, Marco was six feet tall.
"Let's go see this gentleman." I smiled stiffly, coaxing her. "Mommy wants to meet him."
"Okay!" She pulled my hand, bouncing toward the garden.
I followed her, each step feeling like walking on cotton, everything around me becoming unreal. We entered the garden. Stella let go of my hand and ran toward the largest oak tree.
"Right here!" She pointed toward a row of trees at the garden's edge.
That spot was well hidden. Dense trees, with an abandoned flower bed nearby overgrown with waist-high weeds. If someone stood there, they could clearly see the entire garden. I took Stella's hand and slowly walked over, my heart pounding in my chest.
There were impressions in the grass, as if someone had stood there for long periods. The grass was flattened, forming two vague footprint shapes. And they were large footprints.
Who would stand here every day, watching my daughter? Who would know I loved white dahlias? Who could slip into my studio and apartment without a trace?
"Mommy?" Stella's voice pulled me back to reality. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, baby." I took her hand, my voice distant. "Let's go home."
On the way home, I kept checking our surroundings. Every tall figure made my heart race. Every black car parked on the street made me alert. At every corner, I instinctively looked back to see if anyone was following.
But there was nothing.
The street showed normal evening scenes. People getting off work, elderly walking dogs, young people on bicycles. No one paid attention to us, no one looked suspicious.
Yet I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
The next morning, I arrived at the studio with huge dark circlesunder my eyes.
I hadn't slept all night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that tall figure standing behind trees, watching my daughter.
I changed the studio locks and installed surveillance cameras. This would be safer. Even if that person could slip in quietly, the cameras would capture his face.
"Elena, you look terrible." Anna came in with coffee, exclaiming when she saw me. "God, didn't you sleep last night?"
"Oh, insomnia," I responded absently while opening my computer.
"You really need rest." She looked at me with concern.
I smiled bitterly. The feeling of being stalked and watched was terrifying—I couldn't sleep normally at all.
"The scheduled client is arriving soon. Can you handle this in your condition?" Anna frowned at me, worriedly handing over strong coffee.
"No problem." I took the coffee and gulped it down, trying to let caffeine pull me from the fog.
