Know Thy Neighbor Quotes

“Turning the corner, she saw the dark figure of a man, John, pushed up against the side of his bed cast in the light of another stained glass lamp. She fought the simultaneous instinct to jump away and move closer.

“You shouldn’t have come,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I had to,” she insisted, taking a step forward. “It sounded like you were in trouble.”

He laughed without humor. “Damn right I’m in trouble.”
― Shawn Kirsten Maravel, Know Thy Neighbor

“Pulling her eyes away, she figured it was best to keep such questions to herself. “You could have just, you know, asked me out instead,” she offered, though she wasn’t sure why.

John let out a soft chuckle. “Very true. I guess I just…I wanted to keep you safe.”

“Safe? From what?” Evangeline suddenly felt heat rush her face. Was this man just paranoid or what? “Safe from this? Or from you?”

He looked up, placing his fork down on the plate. His stare was expressionless and she suddenly regretted her brazen accusation. “Both.” His reply had been simple, direct, stern. “Those people who did this to me, they’ll do worse to you if they think that we’re involved…if they think that their message wasn’t clear enough.”
― Shawn Kirsten Maravel, Know Thy Neighbor

“Maintaining a safe distance, she practiced extreme caution as they headed further and further away from the center of the city. She tried to act casual when passing people on the street while simultaneously keeping an eye on the elusive John Smith. That part wasn’t hard of course because most of the people headed in their direction moved submissively to the other side as her mysterious new neighbor passed. Choking down a feeling of dread, she wondered if she’d be smart to do the same and head back to the apartment. Against her better judgment, Evangeline pushed on.”
― Shawn Kirsten Maravel, Know Thy Neighbor

“Lying in bed that morning after a long and frantic run home, the door dead bolted, chained, and a chair hooked under the knob for good measure, Evangeline knew that she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. Every creak, every distant sound, drew her attention. Finally, when footsteps sounded from overhead, she watched the ceiling with a tangible fear that John Smith knew what she’d done and that his secret wasn’t safe.”
― Shawn Kirsten Maravel, Know Thy Neighbor

“Unable to fit reason into the words she should probably say next, Evangeline chose instead to say nothing. Taking a long swig of her coffee, she waited for the moment to pass or for John to change the subject. She was prepared to wait an eternity if it meant holding back from saying something stupid. Something she should probably regret but doubted she would.”
― Shawn Kirsten Maravel, Know Thy Neighbor