“It’s him again. I need help.” The Man in The Hoodie

Outside, the winter air nipped at her face. The streets were mostly deserted, save for the occasional car that zipped by. As she walked toward the bus stop, her heels clicking against the pavement, a nagging feeling crept up her spine.

She paused, glanced over her shoulder, and saw no one. But she knew better now than to trust what her eyes told her.

This had been happening for weeks.

The first time, it seemed harmless. She thought it was a coincidence that the same man, wearing a black hoodie with the hood drawn low, appeared to take the same bus as her—two nights in a row. Then she noticed him standing too close at the station, his face obscured by shadows.

By the third night, her nerves were frayed. She pretended to talk on her phone and hopped off the bus one stop early, doubling back to see if he followed. He did.

Sophia had filed a report with the police, but they weren’t much help. “Do you have any proof he’s following you?” the officer had asked. “Did he make any threats?”

No threats. No proof. Just her gut—and the growing certainty that he was always there, lurking.

Tonight, she tried to shake him. She took a different route home, zigzagging through side streets and alleys. Her heart raced as she ducked into a coffee shop, pretending to browse the menu while stealing glances outside.

And there he was.

Standing across the street under a flickering street lamp, his hood still drawn low. He didn’t move, but she felt his eyes boring into her.

Panic gripped her. She fumbled for her phone and texted her best friend, Lily: “It’s him again. I need help.”

The reply came quickly: “Stay where you are. I’m calling a cab to your location.”

Minutes felt like hours as she waited. She kept her eyes fixed on the man, who hadn’t budged. When the cab finally pulled up, she darted out of the café and into the car, barking her address at the driver.

As the car sped off, she dared to look back.

The man was standing in the middle of the street now, watching the cab disappear into the distance.

Sophia thought she was safe—until she arrived home.

She stepped into her apartment, locked the door, and leaned against it, her heart still pounding. She glanced at the window, the curtain slightly ajar, and froze.

On the sidewalk below, illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlight, stood the man in the hoodie.

This time, she was sure he’d seen her. And this time, she wasn’t sure she could escape.

Sophia’s breath hitched as she backed away from the window. Her hands trembled as she fumbled to draw the curtains shut. How did he know where she lived?

She sank onto the floor, her mind racing. The man in the hoodie wasn’t a stranger—she was sure of it now. The way he moved, the way he watched her. It was him.

Liam.

Her ex-boyfriend.

The realization sent a shiver down her spine. They had broken up a year ago, and while things had ended amicably—or so she thought—he had grown more distant, unpredictable, in the months leading to the breakup. He’d never shown signs of aggression, but something about his recent behavior was unhinged.

Sophia’s phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was Lily.

“Are you safe?” Lily’s voice was sharp, her worry palpable.

“For now,” Sophia whispered, her voice cracking. “It’s him, Lily. Liam.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“I saw his face. Just for a second, but I know it’s him.”

Lily cursed under her breath. “You need to call the police again. File another report. I’ll come over right now.”

“No!” Sophia said quickly. “If he sees you, he might…” She trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Sophia peeked through the curtain again, her heart pounding. Liam was still there, unmoving, staring up at her window.

“I’ll handle this,” she said, more to herself than Lily.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Lily warned.

Sophia hung up and took a deep breath. She couldn’t live like this, constantly looking over her shoulder. She had to end it.

She grabbed her phone, opened the front camera, and pressed record.

“Liam, I know it’s you,” she said loudly, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her chest. “You need to stop this. I’ve already contacted the police, and I have proof now. Leave me alone, or I’ll make sure you regret it.”

She turned off the recording, marched to the window, and opened the curtains wide. Liam flinched, stepping back into the shadows, but she pointed her phone at him and held it up.

“I see you!” she shouted. “The police will see you too.”

Liam hesitated, then turned and walked away.

Sophia sagged against the wall, tears streaming down her face. She knew it wasn’t over yet, but it was a start.

The next day, she went to the police station with her video and filed another report. This time, they took her seriously. A restraining order was issued, and officers were dispatched to patrol her neighborhood.

Sophia also changed her routines—new bus routes, different schedules, and a new apartment with better security.

For weeks, she looked for him everywhere, expecting him to reappear. But Liam never showed up again.

The fear lingered, but Sophia slowly began to reclaim her life. She took self-defense classes, joined a local women’s support group, and surrounded herself with friends and family.

She wouldn’t let Liam—or anyone else—control her life again.