There was indeed a man behind her. Noticing her gaze, he casually redirected his path to another building.

Was she being overly paranoid?

Tightening her grip on her bag, Maggie picked up her pace to her apartment.

The moment her foot hit the first step of the staircase, the sensation of being pursued returned.

Anxiety coursed through her

She rummaged through her bag, withdrawing a bottle of pepper spray. As she registered footsteps in her wake, she abruptly spun around and unleashed the spray in the direction of the pursuer

“Who are you? Why are you following me?”

Simultaneously, she launched a flurry of punches and kicks at the figure.

The man grunted in pain and seized her wrist.

"Maggie, it's me."

Recognizing the voice, Maggie froze and her eyes widened in surprise.

It was Sanford!

“Why were you tailing me?”

Sanford's hair was disheveled, his clothing stained, and his eyes were inflamed and swollen shut.

Through gritted teeth, he pleaded, “Let me rinse my eyes at your place. I can barely see!”

Taking in Sanford's disheveled appearance, Maggie regarded him with a hint of remorse.

“I Live on the sixth floor. Come, I'll lead the way."

Sanford made a valiant effort to open his eyes, but his vision remained obscured and his eyes stung intensely.

"Maggie, I can't see. Can't you offer me your arm?" he demanded impatiently.

At that moment, he resembled a nobleman newly struck blind-powerless yet maintaining an air of arrogance.

A chuckle threatened to escape Maggie's Lips.

She couldn't quite pinpoint why she found amusement in the situation Perhaps it was the fact that he seemed to need her only when he found himself in a predicament.