Decisions (when instincts speak)

As she spoke with the friendly man who'd introduced himself as Ray, she shifted slightly. There was a sense of unease within her as the conversation went on. The longer it lasted, the worse it seemed to become. No matter how often she told herself she was being foolish, the feeling wouldn't abate.

"So, do you have a ride home?" Ray asked with a smile.

She shrugged, still feeling that sense of unease. "I'm supposed to call my roommate."

"Was that the woman who left before I came over?"

She nodded.

His smile grew. "I tell you what ... I'll drive you home."

"That's awfully nice of you."

"I'm a nice guy."

She smiled hesitantly. "I still think I should call my roommate."

"Nah, you don't need to do that. C'mon; let me drive you home."

She looked at her watch, trying to put off answering for as long as possible. She sighed when she noted how late it was. "I want to call my roommate."

He frowned for a brief moment, but his smile was back in place so quickly that she thought she must've imagined it. "My car's just down the street a bit. Let me drive you home. The city's no place for a woman to walk alone."

She shook her head. "I should call my roommate."

"It's late; I'm sure your roommate's already asleep."

"Still, I promised my roommate that I would call."

The frown was on his face for a longer period this time. "Well, I'll be seeing you then."

She watched him leave, fighting the urge to call him back. Sighing anew, she dialed her roommate to come pick her up.

The next morning, she received some unwelcome news from a coworker.

"Sherry was raped,"

"Is that why she's not here?" she asked quietly. "Is she okay?"

"Oh, please the way she dresses, it's no wonder."

"Not cool, Geri. No one asks for that."

"Well, that Ray guy is a sleaze; just ask anyone."

She nearly dropped the file she had retrieved. "His name was Ray?"

Geri nodded. "He's always looking for a new conquest."

She closed her eyes. Sherry's fate could have been her own.

When she got off work, she went to visit Sherry. She knew the woman could use a friend, someone to listen or be there. She thanked whatever gods were listening that she had listened to her gut and not accepted Ray's invitation.