I hesitated, finger hovering over the delete button. These photos could be a major story. Deleting them meant abandoning my duty as a journalist. But keeping them meant risking Sofia's safety.
I chose a compromise. I uploaded the photos to an encrypted cloud account, then deleted them from my phone. This way I preserved the evidence while appearing to comply with their demands.
But I knew this little trick probably wouldn't fool them for long.
Walking home, the feeling of being watched intensified.
Every time I stopped at a red light, I felt eyes boring into my back. I casually glanced around and spotted a man in a baseball cap about twenty meters behind me. When our eyes met, he immediately looked away.
My heart started racing.
I deliberately changed my usual route home, turningfrom the main street into a side alley. Through store windows, I saw the man following.
Fear began clouding my judgment. I picked up the pace, weaving through several blocks, using the maze of alleys and crowds to lose my tail. In a busy shopping center, I ducked into the women's restroom and stayed there for fifteen minutes, hoping to shake him.
When I emerged, the watched feeling seemed to have dissipated. But I didn't dare relax, taking three more detours before heading home.
The whole ordeal left me exhausted and, more importantly, made me realize Sofia and I were in real danger.
That evening, Alexander told me he had business to handle, so it was just Sofia and me for dinner. I tried to act normal, not wanting her to sense my fear. She excitedly told me about her day at daycare while I forced myself to listen and respond.
"Mommy, is Alex coming tonight?" she asked, eyes full of hope.
"Maybe, sweetheart. If he's not too busy," I said, secretly hoping he would come. Alexander's presence always made me feel safe.
After Sofia went to bed at nine, I sat alone in the living room trying to focus on work materials. But every small sound made me jump—distant car engines, the neighbor's TV, even the house settling.
Around ten-thirty, I heard something that made my blood freeze.
Soft footsteps outside the window. Careful, deliberate, clearly trying not to be detected. The footsteps moved around my house, from the front yard to the side, then stopped beneath the living room window.
I held my breath and crept toward the window, peering through a gap in the curtains.
Under the dim streetlight, I saw a dark figure prowling outside my house. Dressed in dark clothes, face covered with a mask, carefully studying my windows. He held something in his hand—looked like some kind of tool.
My heart nearly burst from my chest.
They weren't just making threats anymore. They were casing my house, probably planning something.
I didn't dare turn on the lights or make any noise. I tiptoed to Sofia's room where she slept peacefully, innocent smile on her little face, completely unaware of the danger outside.
I gently lifted her up. She mumbled softly in my arms but didn't wake. I carried her to my bedroom, laid her on the bed, and locked the door.
My phone sat on the nightstand. I grabbed it with trembling fingers and found Alexander's number.
I sent a brief text: "Someone's outside my house. I'm scared. Please help me."
My phone rang almost immediately.
"Anna, where are you right now?" Alexander's voice came through, tight with tension and anger.
"In the bedroom with Sofia," I kept my voice low. "There's someone prowling around outside. I don't know what they want."
"Lock the door, stay away from windows. I'm coming now."
After he hung up, I held Sofia close on the bed, ear pressed to the door listening for sounds. The house was eerily quiet, but that silence was more terrifying than any noise.
Less than five minutes later, I heard a car screech to a halt, then rapid footsteps. I heard the front door open—Alexander had my key, something I'd given him when we started this relationship.
