Shadows

A little story I wrote up on my way to Salisbury on the weekend. Inspired from the other night on my walk home through school. The photo is from the streets of Prague.

I stay in the shadows. Still as the tree casting its darkness over me.

She stops. Looks. Tilts her head to as if to listen more carefully, then decides the chill of the howling wind is more of a threat to her safety.

Thank God for the wind. Not like I needed it but it certainly helped. My thick jacket and clean cut beard fended off the cold so I could concentrate on other more important matters.

I step back onto the gravel path, my rubber soled trainers and subtle technique of rolling my feet gradually onto the ground allowing me to move more quietly.

The timid leaves blowing in the powerful wind cover what minimal sound I am making as I continue for the moment, effortlessly. Shadows are harder to come by now as dull lights more frequently cast an ironically calm light ahead of me.

My palms are sweating despite the cold and I have to squeeze my arm to my chest to stop a drip of sweat travelling any further down from my arm pit. But I stay focused, eyes locked on her slim figure and flowing dark hair. She moves carelessly now as if she’s decided she is alone.

Then I trip. Badly. Shit. I break my fall and recover to quickly glance up... at nothing. Nothing but an empty dim lit wintery street. Then I look around and realise that I’m lost. Lost in the shadows.