He wouldn't hear a word of it, and by this point he had a collection of cans balanced between his chest and one arm. Right from the start something just sounded wrong to her, but then this friendly-looking young guy came bounding up the steps, collecting cans along the 'Got it! I'll bring it up,' someone called out. The can in the lead paused at the second floor landing, and Kelly watched as it literally turned the corner, gained some speed, and began its seemingly mindful hop down the next flight of steps and out of sight. They rolled down the stairs almost playfully, as if they were trying to Near the top of the third landing, one of the bags gave way, tearing open and dispensing cans of cat food. Next came the four flights of stairs, which she wanted to do in one trip. She is certain she locked it, which means he must have already been inside the corridor.

She closed the door behind her, pushing it until she heard it latch. Her neighbors just don't get it, she thought, and though their lax security annoyed her, this time she was glad to be saved the trouble of getting out To the apartment building door, she saw that it had been left unlatched (again). Justifying her decision as she struggled with the heavy bags, she reminded herself that making two trips would have meant walking around after dark, and she was too careful about her safety for that. That afternoon, in an effort to get all her shopping done in one trip, Kelly had overestimated what she could comfortably carry We aren't sure-but what we do know is that she was not his first victim. He had probably been watching her for a while. 'This above all, to refuse to be a victim.' Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence

The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker