Then after what felt like an eternity, Emily noticed movement up ahead that caught her eye—a man walking towards her on the opposite side of the street. Emily hesitated, unsure whether to call out to him. He appeared somewhat suspicious, with his black hoodie and messy hair, which reminded her of her mom’s warnings to stay away from shady men at night. Just minutes earlier she had seen with her own eyes what kind of figures could be out there at night. However, he was the first person she had seen in a while. Maybe this time she needed to make an exception?
As they drew closer, the man glanced over at Emily. She opened her mouth, prepared to say something to him. But when their eyes met, the man froze. A look of astonishment crossed his face. He stared at Emily silently for a moment before taking a few steps to his right before he walked around Emily in a wide arc.