This couldn’t be happening. Oh no, this definitely couldn’t be happening.

Just this morning, I was wishing for the chance to see the stranger again so I could give him a piece of my mind, but now I wish for nothing more than for him to disappear and for this not to be my reality.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to stop myself.

He let go of my hand and straightened to his full height, so he was towering over me, and I fought the urge not to cower.

“I’m sure your father must have briefed you,” he said, his voice calm and cool, just like I...