Fear

The doctor lived only a block from my home. The road was straight and narrow and had a creek on the right side with drainage pipes, along with a small amount of standing water. As you walk along from my house to his the wooded area beside the creek gets thicker blocking some of the sun during the day and sheltering the moons glow during the nighttime hours.1

I suggested Sarah and I go see the doctor down the road even though practicing out of his own home seemed shady. I walked slowly to this mysterious man unsure of what exactly was held in his sunken in dark eyes. This man with grey-white hair and darkened eyes, claimed to be a doctor. As I proceeded to walk toward him I felt sickened as I crept closer to him because he was scanning our bodies as if we were his prey. Sarah, a friend of mine for many years walked next to me with long strides. Sarah was young, tall, and lean. Normally she had a soft tan but today, she was pale, her face took on a white I had never seen before.2

The pavement underneath us seemed to crackle from all the little rocks sliding underneath our worn tennis shoes on the damp dark pavement. The moist air was still hitting my lungs hard as if I were swallowing rocks. We stopped abruptly in front of this mysterious man. As he smiled maliciously down at Sarah, she said, “Doctor, something is wrong with my stomach.” With few words he gave her advice as his cold eyes looked right through her. Unsure of what to expect I watched his movements cautiously. Had I known he had been imprisoned three years before I wouldn’t have even suggested her sudden stomach pain be cured by the doctor. 3

He never spoke of much as if to hide what he was really thinking or maybe he just wanted to hide his past. No one really knew what or why he had been incarcerated but it sure did make me think twice. I tried to speak with him when he first moved in as I was strolling home. He would turn look blankly at me and maybe say hi. He always made me feel weird but really, could a doctor do harm? I never seen him with a woman so I assumed he was not married nor had I ever seen children playing near his home. 4

As we turned to walk away I wondered if he was watching us. My heart began beating fast as I heard a noise behind us. Half way home I didn’t want to turn and look but with instinct I did. The doctor had his hands on a tall woman and her face was wretched with pain. He pulled out a knife that seemed shiny and new as if it were just for that occasion. It was not your ordinary kitchen knife but a knife that stretched half way across her body. She let out a blood curdling scream as he brought it to her collar bone. I could hardly breathe as I watched him in horror. Slicing through her flesh she quickly became lifeless. I began to shake from the turning of my stomach and racing heart. As blood began to seep down the front of her, he slid the shiny metal blade underneath her neck slicing until he met the other side of her body. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and I closed my eyes for a second which seemed like an eternity, hoping that I was dreaming. I turned to run but I just couldn’t move and when I did it seemed as though I was just walking at the pace of a small turtle. Was he chasing me? I couldn’t turn to look back as I watched Sarah’s wet tennis shoes in front of me. It felt as though I was running for miles and miles. I was shaking and my legs felt weak as I continued to look for anywhere to run to. 5

My heart racing I hid in a cement circle covered by some tall weeds. It was a drainage ditch that was there for as long as I could remember. My shoes were covered in muck and mud. I just knew he’d be able to hear my hard breathing. I tried to take deep breaths but my racing heart just wouldn’t allow me. Shaking, I crouched down and closed my eyes hoping and praying he wouldn’t look here. I heard someone’s stride hitting the pavement heavily. Who was it? With a shaky hand I covered my mouth. I quickly looked for Sarah but she was nowhere to be found. All I could see were houses in the distance and wooded areas. Knowing I had left my friend and all I could think was I hope he doesn’t have her. I laid my head on my knee with closed eyes still trying to calm my shaking body. I just didn’t know what was to come. 6