Day One

I try not to slam the shaky, unhinged door on my way out in my cheerful mood. As it is we were barely getting by and the dilapidated door gone would eat into our already overstressed monthly budget.

Valerie was bound by the manuscript of her aunt's will, so I was fairly certain she won't ditch her duties. That was one premature grey hair off my head.

That assured I take this chance to pursue my long hibernating hobby. Lately, I've been just working and looking after the kids.

I tend to sound like a tired mom handling a houseful of kids, which I am doing in a way; running away from marriage did me no good. Falling from the sky and getting stuck on the proverbial coconut tree... hmm, on second thoughts rather a coconut tree than freefalling in the limitless sky. I liked my territory pee-marked and defined, as my life right now.

The certification given by Mr Agrippa Canina back in high school for my skill with photography helps me bag prize money from the contests they hold for wildlife photography; it keeps my bank balance good and pays my bills. The bank account set up by dad since I started middle school is a gigantic icicle, so I have to fend for myself.

I wince as I feel my half-gone cramp from the other day start smarting. I like to think of them as curses from people who don't like a grown woman living her life the way she wants it. I take a deep breath, shake out my denim-clad left leg and slowly start walking again.

I don't really recall how I developed the habit of following people to the extent of taking their photos, but I do know I always had the audacious habit of staring at people, 'bordering on the verge of creepy,' Jacklyn one of my cousins had said. So I guess that was the initial spark and the rest was history when I latched onto the camera.

Now, I can't just start walking aimlessly about, hoping some hottie would crop up in front of me. So while using the excuse of doing my job, I switch over to my hobby, if I happen to find someone worth following around.

Parking my little car at the empty lot beside a clothing shop, I sit waiting with my camera hoping for inspiration to parade itself front of me.

I take my time to observe, it was afternoon now. A balding old man almost bursting out of his coat, flyaway lanky women, giggling schoolgirls with their skirts bordering on mini, a gust of wind will surely expose the interior. While watching the opposite sidewalk and these odd mixtures of people, a shiny car the same colour as champagne drives past me and parks at the empty space a few metres ahead. My god... my jaw drops as I stare at the man alighting from the driver side of the car.

Another man emerges from the passenger side of the car as well, but the one alighting from the driver's side had an arresting physique. He talks with the other guy who was almost as tall as him and then leans on the bonnet of the car putting on his shades as the other guy disappears into the shop. I couldn't blame him the sun was really soothing at this time of the year.

Take a picture, the guy with the pointy horns whispers and I comply to its wishes. I reach for my camera, adjusting the settings to the light outside, so that the flash doesn't go off and blow my cover. At the telltale click of the shutter, I put aside my camera and take the initiative of checking him out properly.

My eyes are drawn to the muscles bunching in his forearms as he puts his hands in his pockets. I liked the fact he didn't wear aviators, they are too damn overrated in my opinion. Running my eyes over his broad shoulders and that chiselled face, I couldn't help thinking that he deserves to grace the centrefold of the women's gossip mag. The paper will catch fire for sure, having him on print on itself.

I sink further into my seat keeping watch from the corner of my eye, pretending to fiddle with my camera as I find him scanning the area. He had sharp senses, he must have sensed me looking at him as he assumes the position of a person ready to tackle a bull. The man who had gone into the shop comes out and both of them get in to the car.

"No... don't go!" I whine as they drive off. I almost pray for a second encounter, I was too fascinated with this latest find. Eminem's Survival track alerts me to an incoming call, I accept it without looking at the caller.

"Huh?" I speak into my smartphone. "Aren't you supposed to say hello you dummy?" That was Alastair, a friend of mine on the other end. "Hello?" I ask still staring at the car, which was rapidly becoming a speck in the distance. "Stalker." That earns my attention, "What!"

"What's got your head in the clouds?" I look at his snapshot in my camera, "Found me a new subject." I smile anticipation and glee making me light-headed.