The man who lived across the road from her had a secret.
It had begun soon after he moved in. Starting from the moment he first saw her. That day, a long time back. He’d been checking his mail box when he saw her come out of her house. She had walked along the short front path to her front gate and stood opening and closing it with such care. He saw her as a vision of loveliness. To say that he was instantly enamoured with her would be an understatement. In fact, from that point on he was captivated; bewitched even.
He made a point of going to the local shops when she did. He knew what hairdressers she used and would find a place across the street and wait for her to come out. He would watch her when she went for walks in the park and would get a nearby table whenever she called in at her favourite café.
Despite the fact that he seemed to accompany her wherever she went, as a rule people didn’t notice. It was only her guide dog that regularly looked at him with interest.