Jailer

She looked up from the desk. The telephone began to ring a hollow sound. She could always sense who it was on the other end. Was it him? Yes. He was not giving in, the telephone rang on. Her body stiffened suddenly, she felt used—spent; her hands trembled as she reached to the table that housed the noisy telephone.

“Hello Jessica Lewis here, who am I talking to?” she enquired brightly.

Total silence, her voice lowered and she asked again “Who is it?”

The silence was enveloping her, her mind racing. “Hello, hello…who’s there?”

Still no answer.

Jessie felt sensations of anger rising in her body, as the anger moved up into her throat it gathered momentum as it reached her tongue and lips, it exploded through her teeth.

“WHO the hell is it and WHAT do you want?”

No one answered. She already knew the answer. A niggle of fear appeared on her brow. It was all too much, she slammed the phoned down, her fists clenched she began beating the wall in frustration as she pulled away.

The telephone rang again; she jumped and reached for it almost in the same movement.

“Who is it?” she repeated but unlike the previous question, there was a lack of conviction that she would be answered. There was an immediate answer, obscenities she shouted aloud “You dirty bastard” and slammed down the telephone.

Her heart was beating fast and her blood pressure rose significantly. Tears racing down her face. Dialogue screamed in her head “How many times do I change my telephone number?”

She knew then who it was, but the voice sounded different so could it be him? She began looking around the room and felt as if an unwanted intruder had entered her space. She walked to the windows scanning the street she looked down at her front door. Just checking she thought. She stopped in mid-flight, adrenaline surging thorough every pore and a strong realization nestled in her head.

She smiled a grim smile at her new understanding about control freaks. Jessie picked up her coat and walked out on to the street, no cowering in the depths of an empty double bed for her. No one would intimidate her ever again and she decided she would go hand to fist with who ever it was that was attempting to control her feelings, in such a cruel way.

“There is nothing to be afraid of but fear itself” She repeated several times each time diminishing fears its grip on her emotions, she could not relax she needed to act and act swiftly and as she moved through the night air, into the unknown, a shiver ran through her.

“Nothing ventured nothing gained.”

“There’s nothing to fear but fear.”

Her head tumbled as she attempted to control her feelings as she walked to confront her Jailer.   

Her feet had started to quicken, as she reached the corner house, not far now, she strained to see if there was any movement any sign of life at the third house on the left.