My head was full of thoughts.

My Diner companion told me he started talking to Carla after he graduated from college. Carla spoke of me frequently and said she and I had stayed in touch.

She told him we talked every day.

He said she thought of me as a second mom and even babysat for me sometimes.

I didn’t know what to say. There were things he knew that she told him that would be impossible to know unless someone knew me and talked to me regularly.

I’m not one to post regularly or at all on social media.

I told him I had to go, and I left.

I had to get away. All I could think was run, run, run. I didn’t stop until I got home. I don’t understand what’s happening.

Has Carla been following me?

Spying on me?

Why me?

All I can remember from our interactions over 15 years ago were the ones regarding her schedule. We never had a full conversation.

I had to talk to someone else who knew Carla.

The next morning, as I was standing at my kitchen sink, the man reappeared.

His yellow eyes materialized before the rest of his body, “Peek-a-boo,” he said and laughed.