"Oh my gosh! Are you serious? Did you see which building he went to? Was he allowed in? And was the security guard on duty?"

"I did see him chatting with someone inside the gate, but I'm not sure if it was the security guard or not. You seemed really worked up, Lola?take a deep breath and calm yourself; I didn't mean to alarm you. It could just be someone looking for another tenant, or maybe he had car trouble and needed help."

"As long as no one's banging on your door, try not to stress about it. Just make sure you report it to the property manager and the police. Let them know a strange man was hanging around the property and asking questions. I was trying to remember what the guy who came to the community center looked like, but it was too dark to see the man's face. We were leaving the building, and the outside lights had not come on at that time."

"I did see a guy two days ago, and he was walking towards the apartment, but I ran upstairs and didn't look back because it scared me. I will contact the office in the morning about the strange man. Thanks, Zondra, for letting me know. I will see you at the community center tomorrow."

At that moment, it hit me like a tidal wave. I knew I had to come clean to my parents about Allen, especially if he came back to the community center again. My thoughts drift, lingering on the young woman he was with at the caf�. Who was she? Had they known each other for a while, or was she just another stranger he was trying to win over with his charming smile?"

The thought sent a shiver down my spine?what if he turned out to be the kind of guy who stalks young women? It felt so unsettling to even consider that he might have ill intentions, especially towards me.

Sure, I didn't have any solid proof that he'd hurt anyone, but I couldn't shake off that uneasy feeling. What if I let him get too close? The thought haunted me, making me second-guess the safety of my surroundings. It was that same dark cloud hanging over my mind, whispering worries I couldn't quite silence.

I couldn't shake this nagging fear. What if the police talk to him and decide there's no evidence of wrongdoing or any reason to be suspicious of him? My heart sank at the thought of them letting him go without any consequences. What if he gets to walk away or they mention my name, and he comes looking for me?

It was weighing on my mind, and I'm seriously considering getting a restraining order to keep him away from my workplace. Just thinking about it sends that familiar wave of anxiety and that feeling of dread through me.

"Am I just being paranoid and over-thinking? What if he gets really upset and decides to confront me? I can almost hear his voice echoing in my mind, insisting he was just trying to be friends. Ugh! What have I gotten myself into?"

I found myself mulling over the situation; maybe I was being too harsh on him. After all, he was respectful and very kind during our chat at my table that day, and we did have a genuine connection. But Ms. Anderson witnessed him sitting at a table with another young lady, which raised a lot of little red flags in my mind.