Page 68 of Hidden

The card from the bakery which I kept last week goes in. The ribbon from the first bunch of violets goes in. Every small thing from him which I've been keeping without admitting I was keeping it.

I tie the bag and put it by the door ready to take out when I leave for the day. I stand in the kitchen for a moment in the quiet.

I fill the kettle to make my own coffee, look around and smile when I see my camera on the shelf by the window.

I pick it up without thinking about it, it’s just muscle memory, it’s the same reflex that makes me reach for it whenever the light hits a room, and I think it looks nice. And the light this morning is beautiful. The sunrise is coming in low and pale gold across the rooftops; it’s an early winter morning that looks like it was designed to be photographed.

I frame it through the viewfinder. Wait. Then click. Then again, at a different angle, the window frame cutting across the corner, the geometry of it more interesting than the straight shot.

I make myself a second coffee and sit cross-legged on the bed with the laptop open, my camera is connected and I start uploading the pictures from my memory card. I know the pictures on the card will make me smile and relax even for a moment.

It takes a few minutes to upload them all. I take a sip of my coffee and let the images populate and feel something loosen in my chest that has been tight since I woke up.

This is my happy place.

I set the mug down and start clicking through.

The first day at college, students walking to campus, Grounds, my friends, and the image I took of the Crawford brothers without them knowing about it.

I keep clicking through them, smiling at them all, then my finger freezes over the button.

The image on the screen is not one I took.

It’s my bedroom. My room, from the end of my bed. I’m asleep on my side, my hair across the pillow, and one hand open beside my face. The lamp is off, there’s just the ambient light from the window, but the shot is clear enough that I can see my own face relaxed in sleep, and I know that standing at the end of my bed is my stalker.

I make sure there aren’t any more pictures, I can’t find any, but the pounding in my chest is starting to hurt now.

Did he ever do anything else while he was here? How did I let it get so far?

I close the laptop, get in the shower and get ready for the day, before some part of my brain tells me to change my mind and let him continue to break into my dorm room.

Once ready, I get the rubbish bag, open the door, and there she is. Juno is in the corridor about to knock on my door.

She takes one look at me, then at the bin bag. "What happened?"

"Nothing, just a bit of spring cleaning."

"It's autumn."

"Clean out. Whatever." I shift the bag to my other hand. "I'm getting rid of some stuff."

"Sadie."

"I'm fine." I start walking. She falls into step beside me, which I knew she would. "I just need to drop this off and then go to the residence office."

"The residence office." Her voice is careful. "Why?" There’s a hint of worry in her tone, but not enough to push me on this subject, I hope.

I think about what to say. What version of this can I give her that's true enough to be real and contained enough that she doesn't panic.

"The security panel outside my door kept beeping last night," I say. "I want them to check the system."

It’s not a lie; it’s just not everything.

Juno is quiet for a moment. "Is everything okay with your room?"

"It's fine. I just want them to check it. It’s best to be safe, right?” I smile at her.

“That’s true, there are some freaks out there.” She jokes, and I have to laugh because I have a freak following me right now.