Down Dark Alleys

I think we were followed.

It's possible that it's all in my head, but I don't think even my mind is quite that acerbic.

Walking with linked arms, Hazel and I hobbled over the flyover, past the university and above the black waters of the Brayford. It was already dark and the lights from the occasional passing cars created the illusion of safety.

The flyover, only much lighter

Photo: Jonathan Gill

Laughing and joking as we walked (as I'm sure people who know our respective personalities will understand), Hazel jerked her head over at a trampy old man a few feet behind us.

After telling me to look and then scalding me for actually doing it, we realised he'd been behind us for good few minutes and he seemed to be getting closer.

Trying to lighten the mood, we starting chatting about idle bollocks (as per usual) and without really noticing, tuned out for a moment.

When we were jerked back to the present by a set of headlights driving past us, I noticed he'd gotten much closer and was only a few feet behind us now, shuffling his unkempt self towards us.

Hazel grabbed my hand (for all the good it would do!) and we started walking a little faster, until we reached the steps that descend down the side of the Costa Del Architecture, where bolted down the stairs, feverishly glancing behind us until we were under the reassuring glare of the streetlights.

As we walked back to Pavs, we kept looking at the foot of the stairs. Although Hazel said she saw him come down the first few steps, he never arrived at the bottom, which to me at least, is a sure sign that he was indeed following us.

I know, I know - we may have been imagining things and the entire episode (however jarring) may have just been the product of chicken-induced delirium (i.e. my third trip to Nandos in almost as many days), but I don't think so.

I just have this unshakable feeling in the pit of my stomach that he really was following us. Hoggy and Hadel might be close friends, but the last time I checked friendship wasn't entirely successful as a rape deterrent.

The whole thing's just shaken me a little - especially as I'm nursing a post-Carnage hangover that makes me feel considerably weaker than my normal chipper self.

Sober, vitamin-flooded me is feeble enough, but add a nauseating hangover into the mix and I'm more likely to wake up in Sam's bed than I am to survive a mugging, or even a strong breeze for that matter.

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