Shadow

Don't Trust These Hoes

I sit in class, I'm here but then again I'm not. He's real, he's always been real, just in the shadows. He is a shadow. I don't know how, but he is. I should have freaked out, should have screamed. Why am I not normal? "That will be it, have a good afternoon, study for your finals, I wish you all good luck" professor announces. I get up all too quickly and practically run out of the room.

I briskly walk to my apartment, I have to get ready for tonight, I have a date with my boyfriend. He's....... Interesting, he's a respectable man, same age as me, he can act like more of a father than my boyfriend sometimes, but overall he's a good guy. We don't get to see each other often between school and work, he has training and night classes, wants to be a pilot and travel the world. I enter my apartment and Lilah's not home yet from the dead silence I hear, that girl makes as much noise as a marching band in a parade. I walk to my room, but slowly come to a stop, peeking around the doorway, I see no one in my room. I walk in and set my bag down and open my book trying to at least begin studying, not like I really need it.

Engineering has always been a passion of mine, it comes naturally to me. "Engineering" I hear. I jump and slam my book closed in one motion. "Don" I breath out. I turn and see Don leaning against the other side of my desk. I look up at him, he raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" I clear my throat. "Checking." one word. Always one word. He doesn't seem to like talking very much, nor does he like questions. I re-open my book and look down at the words.

I find myself reading the same line over and over again, he is very distracting. Instead of reading, I begin to think about my.....predicament. "Why could Lilah see you the first time but not the second?" I question. "Humans can only see me when I want them to" he responds. "Then why can I see you?" I mutter more to myself. "You ask a lotta fuckn' questions" he announces. "I- I'm sorry" I apologize. I can't help it, I need to know what the hell is going on. "Read to me" he demands. He gets up off of my desk and sits on my bed. I turn around in the chair and gulp. I stare at him as he lays down, he turns his head looking at me. "Now" he barks out. I hop out of my seat with an 'okay' and sit down on the bed.

I open my book with shaky hands and begin to read aloud. I stutter and few times, but he says nothing. The ringing of my phone stops me, saved by the bell. I walk over to my bag and fish it out. Thomas. "Hey" I answer. "Hey babe, I'm getting out of class early today, but I have somethings I want to do before we meet, just wanted to let you know in case I was late" he informs. "Okay, I'll see you later", "Alright babe, bye" he ends. I put my phone on my desk and turn around. Don disappeared.

7:30 p.m.

I sit at the table by the window as instructed by the waiter. The poor man keeps making his rounds to my table asking me if I wanted to eat yet. I've been sitting here for 3 1/2 hours waiting for Thomas. I've been drinking water and eating the complimentary bread. He stood me up, we've been dating for almost two years and he's never stood me up. Didn't even call to let me know he wasn't coming. I lift my hand signaling the waiter, I give him a tip since I didn't order and he's been a real gentleman about my situation. "Are sure you don't want to wait for your friend ma'am? It's really pouring out there"

So polite, maybe I should date him instead. "No it's okay I'll be fine" I answer. He nods helping me with my jacket and I walk out into the pouring rain. I do a brisk walk from roof to roof of the very few restaurants and bus stops. Unfortunately, the bus over here stops running around 6:00 because of the budget cuts at the stations.

I feel the cramps in my stomach twist and turn in odd shapes and directions. Of course, this would be the opportune time for me to start my period. I'm pretty sure my makeup is running down my face as well. Two more miles and I get to get in my bed and go to sleep. I'm ready to murder Thomas. He's not a violent man so he wouldn't put up much of a fight, but then again I didn't think he would've stood me up, but here I am. Maybe I could surprise him, attack from behind. No that would still be too risky. Maybe poison? No, it would show up on a toxic screening. Maybe if we went hiking and I pushed him, I'm a very good actress. Yeah, I come up with a great sob story about how we went hiking for our anniversary or something stupid like that, and he was trying to take a picture of me and went too far back and fell.