Yesterday, I had a knock on my door. It was a Caucasian man sounding slightly breathless, with a long beard.

I thought of Merlin.

My instinct told me not to answer.

.

In comparison, the visitor's beard was thin and dingy-looking.

The visitor also wore what looked like a work tag around his neck (Olsen?)

Also, If you look closely at Merlin's picture (not sure you can see the detail?), Merlin wears a special symbol around his neck. Plus his beard is a beautiful shiny white.

A symbol of clean living and, a spiritual path.

I was working in my kitchen yesterday and, probably like most people in the country, trying to find a cool spot!

Yesterday, that cool spot happened to be my kitchen.

At first when I heard the person access the building, my immediate thinking was perhaps either my neighbour who lives opposite, a delivery person or a friend visiting from another block.

However, what alerted me was the unusual sound of the person’s attempt to walk up the stairs.

I quickly went to look through my front door viewer. I could hear the person’s laboured breathing. It was a real effort. The person needed to take the steps one at a time. Panting in between.

There are good reasons why I did not answer my door when the expected knock arrived.

Apart from the most obvious reasons for not answering, like the person outside was far from having any resemblance to Peter Hermann (aka Charles Brooks in the series "Younger").

Neither was there any compelling likeness to either of the three males from the nearby fire station.

Last weekend an unusual situation happened. Three fireman suddenly arrived outside my door. You will not believe what happened. They thought I needed rescuing! I wish I did!!!

However, I am saving that story for another post.

The main reasons I would advise against immediately answering your front door if someone you are not expecting suddenly shows up - will vary from person to person.

Neither am I suggesting this, because I am of a particularly nervous disposition.

I am certainly not someone who panics without a cause.

However, it is important to be aware.

1.     This man did not ring my doorbell (red flag).

2.     It appears that he simply let himself into the block. I was also unaware of planning to have a Saturday appointment or meeting with anyone that day.

3.     I did not want to put myself at risk of having an encounter with an elderly breathless male.

This person was unknown to me. He could have pushed his way in because I had innocently opened my front door. Who knows?

4.     I was not expecting a delivery and, he was not holding any packages.

5.     As I watched him through my door viewer, he kept looking at his phone slightly anxiously. I still did not open the front door. I really wanted to see what his next move might be. I am also taking a wild guess that because he kept looking at his phone, there might have been another person waiting on the line?

The imagination is a crazy thing. If you allow it to run away, it can create unnecessary fear.

Nothing occurred which signalled danger.

Neither was I willing to take part in a stranger's intention.

6.    Besides, I did not want to make the man feel threatened in any way. Especially, being a Black woman born in London and British.

7.     Neither, did I want to find myself in a situation - needing to defend myself. You know "his words against mine."

8.     Most importantly, I had become aware of his laboured effort to get up the stairs. This was also a red flag in terms of what his clinical diagnosis or physical disability might be.

I had absolutely no intention of being a part of any unforeseen circumstances regarding another person's medical health.

Have you had an Unusual Visitation? Hopefully, you lived to tell the tale.

We love unusual stories so…watch this space

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