Forever Watching

Will Moore had always been an invisible man. In school, he blended into the shadows, unnoticed by the majority. He was neither popular nor unpopular, just another face in a crowd of faces. But that was the way he liked it—his invisibility gave him power. He could observe, watch, and study without ever being questioned.

That was until May came into his life.

She wasn't like the others. She wasn't loud or brash, yet she held a quiet, magnetic presence. Her voice was soft, like the rustling of autumn leaves, and her smile could light up the entire room. Will first noticed her in the library. He had been sitting at the same table as usual, reading through pages of dense, mechanical engineering textbooks, when she entered. She walked to the table across from him, carrying a leather-bound journal and a cup of tea. Her hair cascaded in waves down her back, and her eyes were an ethereal shade of green—like the forest after it rained.

She sat down, and for a moment, Will's world stood still. His heart raced as his gaze remained fixed on her. She didn't even know he existed. He watched her pick up a book and gently flip through its pages. She didn't fidget or shift nervously. She was perfect. Will couldn't remember the last time he'd seen someone who seemed so... untouchable.

He didn't know what had come over him, but as he sat there, he realized something: he had to know her. He had to have her in his life, in any way possible.

Over the next few weeks, Will began to weave himself into May's world. He started to frequent the library more, sitting at a table near hers, always pretending to read or study. Every once in a while, he'd notice her glance in his direction, but it was always brief—polite, maybe curious, but never lingering. He used that as an excuse to tell himself that she was noticing him, even if only for a fleeting second.

He followed her after class one day, just to see where she lived. It wasn't a creepy thing to do—he told himself. He simply wanted to understand her better. When he saw her walking into her apartment building, he memorized the address and the way she moved.

From there, things escalated. Will's obsession deepened, becoming all-consuming. He found out what coffee shop she frequented, the exact time she took the bus home, even the path she walked through the park every afternoon. He was careful—never too close, never too obvious. He was just another passerby, another shadow in the background. But he was always there, watching.

One evening, while sitting in his small, dimly lit room, he looked through the pictures he had taken of her from afar. He had dozens now—May laughing with friends, May reading a book in the park, May talking to someone he didn't recognize. Each one was like a little piece of the puzzle, but something inside Will told him they weren't enough. He needed more.

The obsession had taken root in his mind, and it began to morph into something darker. Will started to feel that he was entitled to her. She didn't know him, sure, but that was only because she was distracted by the superficial things around her—friends, family, school. But Will knew better. He knew that in time, he would be the only thing that mattered.

One night, his plan solidified. It wasn't enough to just observe her anymore. He needed her to notice him, to see him as he saw her. But he also needed to eliminate any possible threats to his growing fixation.

That's when he saw her with James.

James was everything Will wasn't—confident, outgoing, charming. Will had seen them talking in the cafeteria a few times, laughing, and joking. James was a threat, and Will couldn't allow that.

His mind raced as he watched James walk May to her car that evening. They shared a casual hug before parting ways. Will clenched his fists, the jealousy coursing through him like fire. He knew what he had to do. He had to make sure no one came between him and May.

The next morning, Will followed James. He trailed him through the busy streets, just close enough to remain unseen but always within reach. Will was careful. He knew James's routine now—where he went for lunch, the gym he worked out at, and even where he bought his coffee.

But Will needed something more. He needed leverage, a way to make sure James would stay out of his way forever.

That evening, Will found it. James was walking down a quiet street when he passed a dim alley. Will, his heart pounding, stepped out from the shadows and pushed James hard against the brick wall.

"You think you can just take her away from me?" Will whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "You think she'll ever notice someone like you?"

James struggled, trying to push Will off him. But Will was stronger—obsessed, relentless. He didn't care if he hurt James. In fact, he needed to hurt him. It was the only way to clear his path.

With a swift movement, Will reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife. The blade gleamed under the faint streetlight as he pressed it against James's throat. James froze, fear flooding his face.

"You'll never get close to her again," Will muttered.

James tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He was gasping for air, his hands trembling. Will watched the panic in his eyes with a sense of cold satisfaction.

But then, in that moment, Will felt something shift. The adrenaline that had consumed him began to wane, and a twisted sense of clarity settled in. What was he doing? Why did he feel this rush?

Before he could make the final move, he heard a car pull up nearby. Someone was approaching. Will didn't hesitate. He dropped the knife and ran, disappearing into the night.

James was left breathing heavily, his mind racing, but Will didn't care about that. He knew he had sent a message.

May would notice him soon enough, and when she did, he would be waiting.