THE CONSTRUCT: In The End

PART FIVE

7.

Una Ryan walks towards her car, she pauses a moment once she reaches it. She has done this many times before and has never quite felt as she does on this particular day before. Her destination in this time is one that has been her destination many times before too, and even with the nature of her work, she again, never felt as she now does with making her way there.

Attention of an unwanted kind is coming her way. It is more indirect than direct, but it is there all the same and it is not because of the Citroën Berlingo Van of her that is such attention is directed her way. It may be an unusual vehicle for a single lady in the latter half of her twenties to drive though she has had it for a while now, so it is not an unusual sight in her neighbourhood though there are glances from strangers as she goes to it.

It has been parked outside her home rather, past the garden rather than being within the driveway, still nothing unusual though what is unusual is the number of strangers passing by at this time of morning. This in itself is also something that shouldn't be alarming, but she finds it such anyway.

Una is not friendly with many of her neighbours though the faces she usually sees are for the most part somewhat familiar and generally not as many in number at any time as it is now, and this morning there may be two, possibly three that are vaguely familiar and none familiar enough to ever share a good morning greeting with.

It's not that she's naturally unfriendly, far from it, she just doesn't mix or socialise with those leaving all around her. She has those with whom she trusts, and the work she has been doing keeps her occupied and this is how she likes things to be. There is routine and structure to her life and that suits he just fine.

Again, there is many a glance coming at her. People can be nosey; there could be the possibility than some are silently questioning her choice of vehicle and as to how she has been able to acquire it. Others too may may be checking her out in some way or other. Una does take good care of herself, while not being the most attractive woman in the woman her looks, her beauty certainly would go so far in attracting attention whether wanted or not, still some people may just be checking her out physically.

It is more than that or at least feels as if this is so. The nature of her work does have her questioning moments as they come, still, something is about and it is quite unnerving. No point dawdling, if she is being watched then her own behaviour may alert those who may indeed be watching her, know that she is aware she is being watched.

Perhaps this is what they want. If she is being watched, perhaps they want her to be aware that she is being watched, and that thought in itself can also be something quite unnerving. The more she does dawdle the more likely it might be that something untoward might happen to her. Such a thing may not be on the cards for her though she still wouldn't want to tempt fate. Who knows for sure what may be lying in wait around any given corner.

Evenything on this morning appears to be conspiring against her, ... even the morning air, usually crisp and indifferent, feels somehow heavier, as if it too carries a burden of expectation. Appliances within her home too prior to her coming outside. She is a stickler for only having what she needs in any kind of on position, when she is finished with one appliance then it immediately goes off. Though more than one was on standby this morning when they shouldn't have been. She had thought nothing of it at the time but now, she is not so sure.

There is just herself at home, no immediate family, no partner, no children, all of which again suits her just fine. That might change some day though that day is not this one nor is it likely to be any day in the foreseeable future.

Una glances over her shoulder, trying not to appear suspicious, but each movement feels almost overly watched, scrutinised by eyes both seen and unseen. She tightens her grip on her keys, reminding herself that whatever unease she feels must be masked by composure, if only for her own peace of mind.