I Am Watching You

by Teresa Driscoll

So many barking into their mobile phones while everyone else ramps up the volume to compete. To be heard.

I read somewhere that by your forties you are supposed to care more about what you think of others than what they think of you – so why is it I am still waiting for this to kick in?

The two young men have just got out of prison. The black bags contain their personal effects.

Karl has served a sentence at Exeter prison for assault; Antony for theft.

What if they found out that it wasn’t only that?

Trying to give the officers just enough detail to make them take it all seriously but not enough to—

Excuse me

She wishes Lily were here, but cannot say this to her mother. Yet another taboo subject.

Just a feeling that reminded him of a whole different time, a different version of himself.

He is going to have to talk to the police. He is going to have to tell everyone the truth.

How she hasn’t told the police the truth about what happened with Anna in the club. And she hasn’t told anyone about the text from her dad that night.

Wtfff

Because once you become a parent, you learn that love can involve more fear than you had ever imagined, and you never quite look on the world in the same way again.

Please, Sarah. I don’t feel safe. I’m begging you. Please . . .

‘Don’t say that, Luke. That’s no help – to say things like that. We need to let the police handle it now. Not us.’ ‘That’s not what Dad said.’

Hmmmmm

I stare at the solid piece of plastic in my hand, stroking its outline with my thumb. I know that it is Luke’s. And I try to work out what on earth I am going to do now.