Be Mine

She stopped when she saw the shadow. Her gut tightened. Detective McCann had told her, Never take the same way twice. She considered turning back. He knows your routine; to avoid him, avoid routine. She had, mostly.

“I am not afraid!” Her words echoed. Footsteps echoed with them.

The cards said, BE MINE. One a week for a year, each with a pressed flower, no matter where she slept.

She turned quickly and crashed into a man. “Watch it,” he said, and walked on. She breathed relief, slowed, turned a corner, and crashed into another man.

He said, "be mine."